DX LISTENING DIGEST 12-16, April 18, 2012 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2012 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html For restrixions and searchable 2011 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid1.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1613 HEADLINES: *DX and station news about: Alaska, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Biafra non, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Equatorial Guinea, Europe, Ireland non, Israel, Jordan, Korea South non, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, UK, USA SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1613, April 19-25, 2012 Thu 0330 WRMI 9955 Thu 2100 WTWW 9479 Fri 0329v WWRB 5050 [confirmed at 0332] Sat 0130v WBCQ 5110v-CUSB Area 51 [nominal time now] Sat 0800 WRMI 9955 Sat 1500 WRMI 9955 Sat 1730 WRMI 9955 Sun 0400 WTWW 5755 Sun 0800 WRMI 9955 Sun 1530 WRMI 9955 Sun 1730 WRMI 9955 Mon 0500 WRMI 9955 Mon 1130 WRMI 9955 Tue 0930 HLR 5980 Hamburger Lokal Radio Thu 0330 WRMI 9955 [or maybe 1614 if ready in time] Latest edition of this schedule version, including AM, FM, satellite and webcasts with hotlinks to station sites and audio, is at: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html or http://schedule.worldofradio.org or http://sked.worldofradio.org For updates see our Anomaly Alert page: http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.html WRN ON DEMAND: http://www.wrn.org/listeners/#world-of-radio WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS VIA WRN: http://www.wrn.org/listeners/customize-panel/addToPlaylist/98/09:00:00UTC/English OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org DAY-BY-DAY ARCHIVE OF GLENN HAUSER`S LOG REPORTS: Unedited, uncondensed, unchanged from original version, many of them too complex, minutely researched, multi-frequency, opinionated, inconsequential, off-topic, or lengthy for some log editors to manage; and also ahead of their availability in these weekly issues: http://www.hard-core-dx.com/index.php?topic=Hauser DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Why wait for DXLD? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our yg without delay. When applying, please identify yourself with your real name and location, and say something about why you want to join. Those who do not, unless I recognize them, will be prompted once to do so and no action will be taken otherwise. Here`s where to sign up: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ ** ALASKA. U S A. Two New SW Stations --- Glenn, Today the FCC published a list of applications accepted for international broadcast station construxion permits, to Aurora Communications in Ninilchik AK, the organization you covered in DXLD 2-122, August 1, 2002; and to the International Fellowship of Churches, Inc. in Norco, CA [see U S A] http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-313565A1.pdf Cheers, (Benn Kobb, DC, April 13, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is the very first step; it remains to be seen if CPs will be issued (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Viz.: Report No. IHF-00112 Friday April 13, 2012 re: Applications Accepted For Filing --- International High Frequency The applications listed herein have been found, upon initial review, to be acceptable for filing. The Commission reserves the right to return any of the applications if, upon further examination, it is determined they are defective and not in conformance with the Commission's Rules and Regulations and its Policies. For more information concerning this Notice, contact Tom Lucey at 418- 2161; Thomas.Lucey@fcc.gov; TTY 202-418-2555. Note: At present, technical data regarding these applications is not available via internet reports. However, all IBFS technical data may be downloaded in a database format from the following web location: http://www.fcc.gov/oet/info/database/fadb.html (via DXLD) Hi Glen[n], Some technical info on the two new applications: IHF -C/P-20120306-00004, Application for new station from Aurora Communications Int. Location: Ninilchik, AK, 60.06.37 N, 151.34.46 W. One 250 kW transmitter. One curtain antenna: 330 degrees with slews at 305 and 355 degrees. Regards, (Tom Lucey, FCC, April 17, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here are 10-year-old reports on this slightly delayed project: In DXLD 2-051: ** ALASKA. The FCC has released a public notice showing the grant of a permit for the Aurora Communications International HF station in Alaska. The Site is at 11621 Sterling Highway, Ninilchik, AK 60-06-34 N 151-34-21 W. No Call Letters listed in the notice. Report No. IHF-00038 Thursday September 26, 2002 INTERNATIONAL HIGH FREQUENCY RE: ACTIONS TAKEN The Commission, by its International Bureau, took the following actions pursuant to delegated authority. The effective dates of the actions are the dates specified. IHF-C/P-20010521-00004 P NEW AURORA COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC. Construction Permit Grant of Authority Date Effective: 09/25/2002 For more information concerning this Notice, contact Tom Polzin at 418-2148; tpolzin@fcc.gov; TTY 202-418-2555. (Donald Wilson, Sept 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-051, Sept 30, 2002)`` ** ALASKA. NINILCHIK RESIDENTS WORRY TRANSMITTERS ARE DANGEROUS The Associated Press (Published: July 31, 2002) Kenai -- High-frequency radio antennas under construction near Ninilchik have neighbors concerned that the transmissions could be hazardous. The antennas also have caught the attention of two government agencies. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has handed developers a cease and desist order because of possible wetlands violations, and the Environmental Protection Agency is investigating the project. The antennas are designed to broadcast religious programming to Russia and the Far East. According to the project's construction permit application, the company building the complex is addressing the wetlands concerns. Company officials also say there would be no danger to the public or to wildlife. The broadcasting complex is being built by Aurora Communications International Inc., a California-based nonprofit corporation that produces and disseminates Christian educational programming and radio broadcasting. According to corporate president Alexander Kozned, the nonprofit is supported by donations and the project is being built by volunteers. Kozned said the station's transmission power is not unusually high or the towers unusually tall. "This is not going to be Voice of America," he said. "They broadcast at 500 kilowatts. They have antennas that are whoppers compared to ours." Initially, transmission will be at 100 kilowatts, about the power at which a similar station near Anchor Point broadcasts. Eventually, he said, the power could be boosted to 250 kilowatts. Kozned's Ninilchik-area neighbors, Paul and Sue Dionne, say they are concerned with the engineering and power of the transmitters. In late June, they filed an informal complaint with the FCC over several issues and are seeking to postpone Aurora's permit. Paul Dionne said Aurora did not properly notify the public regarding its FCC application. Dionne also expressed concern that the station is being built near critical habitat areas and on the edge of Cook Inlet. According to Phil North of the EPA's Kenai office, work last year proceeded without a wetlands permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. EPA required Aurora to remove excess fill and restore some areas, which was done. The Corps of Engineers is addressing new illegal fill, which has generated the cease and desist order. North said he expects the Corps of Engineers to turn over that matter to EPA shortly. Kozned said he expects the wetlands issues to be resolved. Copyright © 2002 The Anchorage Daily News (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) This is the old KGEI transmitter, as previously reported (gh, DXLD 2- 122, August 1, 2002) More recently, the same Ninilchik site has been associated with DART tests of DRM, so were they borrowing Aurora Comms. transmitters? From DXLD 10-07, of Feb 18, 2010: ** ALASKA. Glenn, in the latest DXLD you inquired about the status of WE2XRH in AK. The station's website now has some photos and newer transmission info – including CW operations. http://daradiotech.com (Benn Kobb, DC, WORLD OF RADIO 1500, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CW?? What`s that got to do with DRM? So is anyone outside NVIS AK hearing any of these transmissions, DRM decoded or not? No times given. Are they avoiding analog stations such as 7505: WRNO at 02-05, FEBC 1400-1630, BBC Thailand 18-19 UT, not to mention adjacent usage? Bad news for the only broadcaster on 4850, AIR Kohima and its big fan Ron Howard, but has he noticed any QRDRM? Aoki reminds us that the lowest frequency was originally 4845 when it was last reported only from Japan: 4845 WE2XRH Spark Radio(DRM) 1800-2100 1234567 Data(DRM) 100 ND Ninilchik ALS 15134W 6006N DART b09 Nov. 18, 19, 24 Nothing else scheduled currently on 9285-9305 per Aoki. No reports of the current frequencies in the drmna yg http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drmna/ I think they have a member in the Pacific northeast, but perhaps none in Alaska. Here is almost all of the text portion of the above website, but do look at it for nice illustrations (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1500, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: WE2XRH The mission of Digital Aurora Radio Technologies (DART) is to expand communications across the north by using existing, and exploring new communications technologies. DRM technology | Transmitter System | Receiver System DART is in the process of testing the potential to broadcast digital radio across Alaska. Uniquely Alaskan, the project presents challenges and opportunities that one might expect in the "Last Frontier." Digital Radio Mondiale or DRM is already being rolled out in Europe and Asia. DRM uses a technology known as Forward Error Correction (FEC) to ensure that the signal is received perfectly all the time. Up to 4 simultaneous broadcasts can be sent in a single 10 kHz channel. DRM utilizes the most advanced digital audio techniques to bring high quality music to shortwave receivers. DRM is digital and therefore can use multimedia such as pictures, text, or web pages, in addition to digital audio. Animation shows propagation during January 12, 2010. The transmitters are operating at 5, 7 and 9 MHz. Digital information is sent via DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale). DRM allows broadcast of high quality audio, pictures and data, in up to four simultaneous channels. DART represents the future of long range wireless. Imagine camping along the Yukon River or fishing in Bristol Bay - your shortwave receiver not only picks up the current weather broadcast, but shows you the weather map and satellite image as well. Back at home you might be interested in receiving streaming text of the headline news or having your newspaper delivered electronically without the need for an internet connection or cell phone. 5 MHz Antenna [caption] The antennas used are optimized for Near Vertical Incident Skywave (NVIS). This means that the broadcast signal goes almost straight up in a cone shape, then bounces off the ionosphere and comes back down again. The main objective is to cover Alaska mainland and maritime areas. The antennas are crossed dipoles with circular polarization, to maximize signal strength even during marginal conditions. You can listen! We are currently testing DRM on 4.85 MHz, 7.505 MHz and 9.295 MHz. In addition, we are broadcasting CW on 4.851 MHz, 7.511 MHz and 9.301 MHz. If you pick up our signal, let us know - we would like to hear from you info @ daradiotech.com [we prefer uncluttered pointless kHz for searching: 4850 7505 9295; 4851 7511 9301 – or really by our preference to remind us of the full bandwidth covered, 4845-4855, 7500-7510, 9290-9300. Since all the CW frequencies are within a few kHz of the DRM center, are they doing both at the same time or would that be impossible? -- gh] Receiver System DART maintains a network of receivers located throughout Alaska. The receivers are WinRadio® G-313i units. These units allow rapid measurement of signal to noise ratio, which is then used to adjust transmitter settings. Receive antennas are short dipole configuration, approximately 10 feet in length. The receivers are connected to our network and are under computer control. This means that we can precisely monitor our signal levels around the state, at all times. Shortwave signals tend to vary quite a bit, with some frequencies working better during the day, and other frequencies are better at night. Sunspot activity can also affect the ionosphere, and therefore, change the effectiveness of the signal. Most shortwave stations stay on the same frequency resulting in signal that fades in the middle of a program. DART, on the other hand, always selects the best frequency to reach the entire state (via DXLD) I need a heads-up: What kind of transmission facility was this originally? Looks like some military thing. At least the transmitters appear to be rather old Continental rigs (Kai Ludwig, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Kai, I estimate it to be the reuse of the old OTH radar transmitter in Delta Junction (S. Hasegawa, NDXC, ibid.)`` all the above from DXLD 10-07 of Feb 18, 2010. And two issues later: ``ALASKA. WE2XRH, the DRM/CW test. I see in Aoki that specific hours are now listed for 100 kW ND Ninilchik ALS 15134W 6006N Data(DRM): 7505, WE2XRH DART (DRM) 0000-0800 1234567 DART b09 4845, WE2XRH DART (DRM) 1600-2400 1234567 DART b09 Nov. 18, 19, 24 [more recently DART gave that as 4850] 9295, WE2XRH DART (DRM) 0800-1600 1234567 DART b09 Jan. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST 10-09)`` [the above summarized in WORLD OF RADIO 1613] ** ANGOLA. 4949.75v, 01/04 1826-, Rádio Nacional Angola, low modulation barely audible. Portuguese talks (Giampiero Bernardini, with Dario Monferini at Bocca di Magra, Boc 27, Italy, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANGUILLA [non]. 6090, April 17 at 0553, Caribbean Beacon is off after quite a spell staying on, uncovering the usual weak het, presumably between off-frequency Brasil and Nigeria (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. Toda la banda arruinada por el desparramo de R.A.E; es impresionante, no deja escuchar nada (Ernesto Paulero, 2200 UT April 14, condiglist yg via DXLD) Referring to 6060 putting out spurs (gh) Acá salpica desde los 5880 hasta los 6200 kHz. RGM (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Argentina, 2206 UT, ibid.) Sí, hay emisoras que se pueden sintonizar --- Radio Guaíba en 6000 por ejemplo pero hace un desastre (Paulero, 2213 UT, ibid.) Acá en Montevideo lo mismo. 49 metros totalmente arruinada. 73 de CX2ABP (Rodolfo Tizzi, Uruguay, 2245 UT, ibid.) ** ARGENTINA [and non]. 15345.07, 15/4 1850, Radio Nacional Argentina, talks, song, news at 1900, "Por Nacional Argentina está informada", drifting, some splatter from Morocco, strong on 15349.14 (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano Italy, Drake R-4C - Excalibur Pro - Elad FDM-S1, ant: T2FD 15 meters long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. LAS SIETE DECADAS DE LA RADIO NACIONAL REUNIDAS EN UN LIBRO --- 18 de abril de 2012 • 16:08 En el libro "Radio Nacional, voces de la historia, 1937-2011", que se presenta en la Feria del Libro, Carlos Ulanovsky y Susana Pelayes recuperan los hilos de un camino -en una detallada investigación periodística-, a través de viejos documentos, testimonios y recuerdos de la emisora pública, conformando una suerte de homenaje y manual histórico. El libro está integrado por más de 400 páginas que se organizan en décadas históricas, comenzando en el 30, cuando se gesta la semilla radial con el presidente Agustín P. Justo, para convertirse en Radio del Estado (LRE) que por aquellas épocas cuestionaba y definía su perfil sujeto a las preferencias de la opinión pública que oscilaba entre lo musical, cultural y teatral. . . FUENTE: http://noticias.terra.com.ar/sociedad/las-siete-decadas-de-la-radio-nacional-reunidas-en-un-libro,2a20f9ef3d6c6310VgnVCM4000009bcceb0aRCRD.html (Via @yimbergavirira [sic], DXLD) Anything about shortwave in it? (gh) ** ARMENIA. Voice of Justice on Azeri language heard yesterday, Tuesday from 14 to 1426 h, and today is Wednesday from 0600 to 0626 all on a floating frequency 9677.4, and still transmit the same hours on Fridays and Saturdays. Apparently in Baku local time left as winter, otherwise in 2010 they in the summer passed in 13 and in 5 hours UTC, i.e., have done so as to Russia and Belarus. Not tested the Public Radio of Armenia on 4810 kHz - can be and there was no winter clock (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria / "deneb-radio-dx", via RusDX April 15 via DXLD) ** ASIA. Some BABCOCK changes from April 1: Gospel for Asia in various SEAs langs, all transmissions are cancelled: 2330-2400 on 6040 DHA 250 kW / 085 deg to SEAs 0000-0130 on 6145 DHA 250 kW / 085 deg to SEAs 1600-1630 on 9810 DHA 250 kW / 100 deg to SEAs 1615-1630 on 9810 DHA 250 kW / 070 deg to SEAs Sun-Wed (DX Re Mix News 16 April via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 9580, Friday April 13 at 1330, RA with `Religion & Ethix Report` from RN; first segment a negative post-game evaluation of ABC TV program `Q&A` debate between Cardinal Pell and Atheist Richard Dawkins. Then about divisions in the so-called ``Uniting Church`` as Rev. Harry Herbert is about to retire; and also two Aussie faxions of the Greek Orthodox attempting to reunify as GO Easter is nigh (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 13570 (but not symmetrical 13750), Intermodulation of Shepparton: RA Sports live coverage outlets on shortwave noted at 0528 UT April 14. 13630 S=9+25dB, 13690 S=9+15dB at SDR remote unit in Brisbane-AUS (Wolfgang Büshcel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Apr 14 via WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DXLD) ** AZERBAIJAN. Azerbaijan moved to the Azerbaijani summer time AZST which correspond to UTC + 5. http://timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=369 (Serhiy1970, Chernihiv (51 degrees 28'N, 31 DEGREES 15'E), Ukraine / "deneb-radio-dx", via RusDX April 15 via DXLD) ** AZERBAIJAN. 9677.4, R Fedaletin Sesi / Voice of Justice, Nagorno- Karabakh, in Azeri heard all Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays in times as in B11 as follows: Tu/Fr 1400-1425 and We/Sa 0600-0625 (in previous summers respective from 1300 and from 0500 DST). So maybe in Armenia or in Azerbaijan or in both the situation with their local times is similar as in Russia and Belarus (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, April 12, DSWCI DX Window April 18 via DXLD) ** BANGLADESH. 4750, Bangladesh Betar, April 16 (Monday); mixing badly with CNR1; poor. 1219-1225: in Bengali with subcontinent music/song. 1225-1228: Muslim call-to-prayer. Their Maghrib/sunset prayer, as their local sunset was at 1220 UT (6:20 PM BST). 1230-1234: OM talking. 1234: subcontinent music. 1235-1242: YL with the Monday only news bulletin in English. Items: “The nation celebrated the Bengali New Year 14-19 last Saturday”; current Bengali year is 1419; Bangladesh and Malaysia signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation; etc. Assume this is their weekly SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) news bulletin. The Bangladesh Betar website http://www.betar.org.bd/ lists “1835 [1235 UT] (SAARC News Bangla) 1850 [1250 UT] (SAARC News English) in every Monday”, but is actually observed just the opposite, with English first. No hint of RRI Makassar (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS. 26980 kHz, Can anyone be interested in the video of the CB in the Belarusian Gomel. http://www.ctv.by/video/16/Novosti-1930-130412-avtokanal.mp4 WEB : http://gomelavtokanal.by/ From me to the Gomel directly AC 100-110 km. Say, the range 27 MHz of the "dead zone". Is that true? (Serhiy / 'Chernihiv (51 degrees 28'N, 31 DEGREES 15'E), Ukraine / "deneb-radio-dx" & "open_dx", via RusDX April 15 via DXLD) ** BELGIUM [non]. DX-Antwerp Anniversary program - Frequency change. Hallo, The frequency for the last DRM transmission to North America will be changed in 17875 kHz because of a collision with Radio Habana Cuba. Wegens mogelijke storing van Radio Habana Cuba wordt de frequentie van de laatste DRM uitzending naar Noord-Amerika gewijzigd in 17875 kHz. TARGET UTC kHz STATION ITU MOD India 0430-0530 17880 Issoudun F AM Western-Europe 0800-0900 9680 Issoudun F AM Western-Europe 1200-1300 6015 Issoudun F DRM North America East 1400-1500 17880 Montsinery GUF AM India 1530-1630 15775 Issoudun F DRM North America West 1700-1800 21680 Montsinery GUF AM North America 2000-2100 *** 17875 Montsinery GUF DRM 73, (Guido Schotmans, April 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Date? Saturday May 12 as in DXLD 12-14 (gh, DXLD) ** BHUTAN. Hi Everyone, Below is a link to the recording of BBS 6035 from the 10th as I mentioned on the night in a post it was parallel to their webstream. I have a recording of about an hour but cannot find any talk. I did scan through the tape quickly though. http://www.box.com/s/4e3e04781a161af682d3 (Mark Davies, Anglesey, April 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) NOTHING on 6035 kHz at 1545 UT April 12, neither in AUS, JPN, RUS, nor in all Europe. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Bhutan was on at 1300 UT, so they might shut down early today, might be it was an extensive test in last couple of days. Thanks & Regards, (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, Dist. Darjeeling, West Bengal, INDIA, Skype: dxinginfo, April 12, ibid.) Radio Bhutan, Thimphu is terug in de lucht op 6035 (v). Gisteren op 6035.050 om 1730 UT, het station is niet dagelijks in de lucht. Dit zou misschien tewijten zijn aan de transmitter, het signaal is zacht alsook de audio. Met meestal boedistche muziek. Bij Bhutan kon ik enkel de boedistiche muziek vaststellen. Dus geen opname gemaakt. 73, (Maurits Van Driessche, Belgium, 2015 UT April 12, HCDX via DXLD) 6035, Bhutan Broadcasting Service, Sangaygang, Thimphu, 0544-0600, Apr 10. Its my pleasure to inform you that BBS had been back on air for the first time in many weeks on its usual SW frequency during my aircheck. There was English songs with a host introducing the songs etc., closing ann plus music, then ann about a new language service transmission beginning around 0600. The signal strength was satisfactory and overall reception was good, no QRM as such observed. And later in the afternoon, BBS English was also heard with news, public ann and English songs on air on 6035 from 0805 onwards upto 0817 or so as per my monitoring. And there was slight interference from a radio station broadcasting on 6025. There was slight problem of audio miss-audio break during the transmission from time to time for a period of very a few seconds. In the evening/night, the reception was not very good. Today on Apr 14, I did not find BBS's signal during my aircheck late in the morning on 6035 during its morning English transmission slot 0500-0600 and earlier. And just around 0631 it was still off the air. But again while checking around 0732, I found BBS signal in a local language. And attached herewith the audio file in mp3 format of the beginning of BBS English transmission around 0759UTC this afternoon i.e. April 14th: BBS Eng 6035kHz 0759utc April 14 2012.mp3 (Gautam Kumar Sharma, Abhayapuri, Assam, DSWCI DX Window April 18 via DXLD) Another version: BBS FLASH --- April 14th I didn't find Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS)'s signal during my aircheck late in the morning on its skd frequency 6035 kHz during its morning English transmission slot 0500- 0600 UT and earlier. And just around 0631 it was still off the air. But again while checking around 0732, I found BBS signal in a local language. BBS English transmission heard around 0759 this afternoon, i.e. April 14th. Anyway, let me keep 6035 in my close watch list for ensuing weeks. 73 & 55 Gautam Kumar Sharma (GK), Abhayapuri (Assam) (India)(via Alokesh Gupta, dx_sasia yg via DXLD) BBS is now on air at 6035 kHz with Dzonkha programming --- 1140 UT, SINPO 43444 - some co-channel underneath and low modulation as past few days -- Thanks & Regards, (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, Darjeeling, West Bengal, INDIA, April 14, DXLD) 6035.04, Bhutan BS, Thimpu, 1759, April 14, non-stop songs // webstream, back after missing April 12 &13, poor (Martien Groot, Schoorl, Netherlands, ibid.) Hi Martien, Thanks for your posting. Have been monitoring 5030 since December. April 14 at 1152 tune-in found open carrier on 5030. By 1310 was fairly strong and seemed about as strong as BBS when heard last December. Bhutan testing their transmitter? Never with any audio, just the open carrier. Very encouraging if them! Have been unable to hear BBS this month on 6035.04. Only PBS Yunnan (April 11 with 1509* and April 13 with 1500*). (Ron Howard, Monterey, Calif., USA, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6035.48v, 15/4 2157, BBS Bhutan (presumed), music, poor still there at 0030 but still really low (Finalmente sono riuscito a tirare fuori un segnalino dopo alcuni giorni di tentativi) (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano Italy, Drake R-4C - Excalibur Pro - Elad FDM-S1, ant: T2FD 15 meters long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ?? No one else reports it that far off-frequency (gh, DXLD) 6035 fa[i]r/good now! (Mark Davies, Anglesey, Wales, 1925 UT April 17, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BIAFRA [non]. RADIO BIAFRA 11870 KHZ FROM SAT 21 APRIL Radio Biafra London will resume broadcasts begining this Saturday, 21st April, on 11870 kHz according to their website http://www.radiobiafralondon.com/ Their website 'Mission Statement' says broadcasts will be "twice a week" "at 8pm". But a separate 'update' on the website contradicts this saying "daily on 11870 MHz [sic] on 25 Metre Band Shortwave from 8PM to 9PM Biafra time" (so 1900-2000 UT - but cannot see any HFCC entry for this yet) "After two years of absence the legendary Radio Biafra London (RBL) is back on air and resumes on SATURDAY 21 APRIL 2012 at 8 pm broadcasting twice a week on 11870 kHz frequency on the shortwave band from its London Studio to all African countries with concentrated footprint in Nigeria. Listeners in the Greater London area can tune into 94.3 FM at the same time whilst those outside London and elsewhere in the world can follow the program online by visiting http://www.radiobiafralondon.com and clicking on the daily broadcast play button. RBL is a public service broadcaster and will serve as the eyes, ears and voice for millions of dispossessed, disenfranchised, abandoned and oppressed people of various ethnic nationalities in Nigeria.[...]" "The full version of the website will be available on Saturday the 21st of April to coincide with the first comeback broadcast. We would be broadcasting daily on 11870 MHZ [sic] on 25 Metre Band Shortwave from 8PM to 9 PM Biafra time. Thank you for visiting Radio Biafra London website..." [ http://www.radiobiafralondon.com/ ] The London FM frequency 94.3 mentioned above is not a licenced frequency, though perhaps they actually mean 94.0 MHz, the frequency of licenced Voice of Africa Radio (VOAR) which moved to 94.0 from 94.3 in 2011? The British DX Club's "Africa on Shortwave" at http://www.bdxc.org.uk/ has this entry for Radio Biafra (under Nigeria): RADIO BIAFRA Radio Biafra was established as an independent radio station broadcasting on shortwave in April 2009. The project was funded through donations from supportive private individuals in Biafra. It broadcast in Igbo and English via Skelton, UK. Broadcasts were discontinued prior to the B-09 season (via Alan Pennington, UK, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This was last reported three years ago, starting with DXLD 9-030: ** BIAFRA [non]. Radio Biafra - 12050 kHz --- Station IDing as Radio Biafra heard on 12050 kHz from 1900 to 1955 UT today (31 March) in English. Several clear IDs as "Radio Biafra, Enugu" or "Radio Biafra, broadcasting live from Enugu, our capital city". Signed off at 1955 and said they will be back tomorrow "at 8 pm Biafra time" [i.e. 1900 UT] On Sunday I heard something African-sounding on 12050 kHz around 1950 UT which I thought was in vernaculars rather than English. Though reception was very poor, it was probably the same station. I expect 12050 is a relay, possibly via a UK site? Not sure if there is any connection with the Radio Biafra / Voice of Biafra which is relayed weekly via WHRI (Dave Kenny, Caversham, UK, AOR7030+ 25m long wire, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) In VTC list: 12050 1900-2000 smtwtfs VTC Skelton 300 160 English W AF HR 4/2/0.3 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) Via Skelton, United Kingdom, 12050, Radio Biafra, 1900-1959:30*, April 4, English programming with discussions about struggles in Biafra & corruption in Nigeria. IDs. Some local African music. Several announcements as “This is Radio Biafra, coming to you live from London.” Fair to good signal. Thanks to tips from Dave Kenny and Glenn Hauser (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST 9-030, 2009y via WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DXLD 12-16) HISTORICAL INFO this was ** BOLIVIA. 4846 kHz, 0133 UT - Radio Municipal, Caranavi BOL (tent.) SINPO 13321, com sinal muito baixo e uma pequena interf. da provável WWCR Nashville operando nos 4840 Khz; pode-se ouvir homem falando, provavelmente não em espanhol, mas em alguma língua indígena como aymara ou quechua, por vezes com sons de flautas andinas típicas (que são uma espécie de "senha" para se reconhecer emissoras andinas). Ouvida realmente com muito esforço. 73, (Fabricio A. Silva, Tubarão - SC, Sony ICF sw 7600 GR, Antena Loop Blindada, UT April 16, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Not sure why he thinks it was this, unlisted in WRTH 2012. O yes, it is in Aoki, which is full of defunct or inactive LA stations: ``4846 Radio Municipal 0900-0400 1234567 Spanish 0.1 ND Caranavi (La Paz) BOL 06808W 1630S Caranavi`` The most recent mention of it on WORLD OF RADIO was #1246, produced September 15, 2004: ``New Bolivian on 4845, ex-Radio Fides, silent for four years. Now it is R. Municipal, Caranavi, La Paz department, not city; recordings at http://www.malm-ecuador.com also heard in Pennsylvania, Florida parallel 9625. Fides relinquished frequency in 2002`` LA SW logs had this on 4845, not 4846: ``4845.04 BOL R Municipal/Norteño, Caranavi [*0910-1020/0016-0230*] (.03-.2) Dec04 X 0207->0230*`` So could it be back on the air now? There has also been wild speculation in South America that noises around 4845 are from HAARP in Alaska, altho that was a frequency DART tested DRM, q.v. (gh, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 4409.73, Radio Eco, Reyes, 0000 om in Spanish to 0140, better than normal signal on 13 April (Wilkner) 4716.74, Radio Yura, Yura, sign on with music at 1023 on 14 April. 2330 voice ute in Spanish on top of Radio Yura on 12 April (Wilkner) 5580.18, Radio San José, San José de Chiquitos, noted 0000 to 0025 with strong signal on 13 April (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. Wonder if Juan XIII on nom. 6055 is audible again these days? (Martien Groot, Netherlands, SW Bulletin April 15 via DXLD) Martien, I have been watching that frequency several times and as it seems Juan XIII is inactive for the moment or have completely different schedule. Information about this SW frequency can still be found on ther website (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, ibid.) ** BOLIVIA. 5952.42, R. Pio Doce, Siglo Veinte, 0030-0102 April 14 Spanish; ad string; instrumental music at 0038; M & W announcers in discussion; various announcers over music; music at ToH into M announcer with no discernible ID noted; fair-poor; weak but readable (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5952.44, 15/4 0150, Radio Pio XII, sport, fair music, fair. 6134.82, 16/4 0040-0109*, Radio Santa Cruz, nice songs non stop, ID on the hour, great IDs at 0104-0106, Santa Cruz song, sign-off at 0109, really good this night! 6154.928, 15/4 0115, Radio Fides, weak but clear, AIR off, free channel, nice music. Till 0129 when AIR started to broadcast later than usual and stopped Fides (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano Italy, Drake R-4C - Excalibur Pro - Elad FDM-S1, ant: T2FD 15 meters long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6134.81, Radio Santa Cruz, 0050-0140, Spanish pop music. Bolivian music. Spanish talk. Poor to fair in noisy conditions. April 14. 6134.81, Radio Santa Cruz, 0055-0116*, Spanish pop music. Spanish talk. Sign off with Santa Cruz song. Poor in noisy conditions. April 15 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) 6134.829, Radio Santa Cruz, 1020-1030 April 16, With a male and female commenting in Spanish over flute music. The program seems to be a lesson of some kind, possibly a language lesson as the woman repeats certain words slowly. The signal drops drastically by 1027 to a threshold level (Chuck Bolland, Excalibur, 26N 081W, Clewiston FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. A so called "Rádio Brasil Livre" will transmit pirate from somewhere in Brazil at the end of this month. SSB, according to a report just given in FB by a ZY DXer. Frequency still to be announced. (Horacio Nigro Geolkiewsky, Montevideo, Uruguay, Mi blog: "La Galena del Sur" http://lagalenadelsur.wordpress.com/ April 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Assunto: [radioescutas] ondas tropicais --- Boa tarde. a propagação continua aberta, ou melhor, escancarada nesta faixa de 60 metros. Ontem à noite por volta das 2330 UT pude sintonizar aqui em Caicó/RN várias emissoras abaixo relacionadas: [including] Rádio Missões da Amazônia 4865 Confiram vocês também (Elder Vale Medeiros, 12 April, radioescutas yg via DXLD) ?? WRTH lists two other 4865 Brazilians; new or namechange? (gh, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 4914.985, 15/4 0244, Rádio Difusora Macapà, two men talking, often mentioning Macapà, fair (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano Italy, Drake R-4C - Excalibur Pro - Elad FDM-S1, ant: T2FD 15 meters long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 6069.96, 16/4 0120, Rádio Capital, Rio de Janeiro, tentative, fighting with CFRX Toronto with same level carrier but lower modulation. Sport in Portuguese, better in LSB, poor (Questa volta il Canada era più debole e soprattutto la propagazione favoriva il Brasile, che però era penalizzato da una modulazione di qualità inferiore) (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano Italy, Drake R-4C - Excalibur Pro - Elad FDM-S1, ant: T2FD 15 meters long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Rádio Record OC 9505 kHz --- Depois de um longo hiato, tornei a captar a Rádio Record de São Paulo OC 9505 kHz, hoje (13/04), por volta das 18h00 (BR [2100 UT]). Sinal forte; mas não foi possível qualificar detalhadamente, pois a escutei no rádio do meu carro, no trajeto entre Itaboraí e Niterói. A programação era musical, tocando ABBA, Marisa Monte, The Carpenters etc. Num dado momento entrou um locutor, que tem mais jeito de pastor do que de radialista, porém isso não vem ao caso... Em 6150 kHz, nada, nada, nada... Vale o registro. Receptor: SONY CDX-GT290, Antena de Teto Olimpus (Fabiano Henrique, Niterói - RJ, 13 April, radioescutas yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DXLD) Amigo, escutei a Rádio Record agora há pouco, em 9505, às 21:50 (Br [UT -3]). Sinal forte, tocando uma musica do Elvis Presley, e às 21:57 simplesmente saiu do ar. Receptor: DEGEN 1103 Antena: telescopica (Paulo Labastie, ibid.) Confirmo que a mesma está no ar neste sábado às 13:30 hrs [local? = 1630 UT] aqui em Novo Hamburgo (RS) com sinal razoável em 9505 khz. Seria ótimo se voltassem a transmitir em 19 metros 15135 Khz com 7.5 kw, cobriria quase todo território nacional, e a frequência de 11965 Khz que tina ótimo sinal aqui até por volta de 2004 quando desativaram estas duas últimas. Em 6150 só de noite, pois azimute deles deve ser mais para o oeste da região sudeste (Edison Bocorny Jr., Novo Hamburgo RS, April 14, radioescutas yg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 10000, 15/4 2330, Observatório Nacional, pips, time, IDs, fair (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano Italy, Drake R-4C - Excalibur Pro - Elad FDM-S1, ant: T2FD 15 meters long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. A FORÇA DO RADIO --- Hoje pela manhã (11:47 [UT -3?]) ouvi na Radio Nacional da Amazônia um caso que me deixou feliz. A locutora recebeu telefonema de uma ouvinte que se queixava de não estar conseguindo assistir a programação da rádio pela internet. A locutora respondeu que houve incêndio no prédio da Embratel e o sistema estava fora do ar, masssssss --- O RADIO ESTAVA LÁ FIRME E FORTE!!!!! --- PARA NOSSA FELICIDADE --- (João S de Araujo, PY2 026 SWL PX2H5869, Sao Paulo - SP, 13 April, radioescutas yg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 15189.98, R Inconfidência, Belo Horizonte, 2052 11 Apr, px mx, ID "A hora ....Inconfidência. .", 33333 (Mauro Giroletti, -Swl 1510-, -IK2GFT-, -JRC525Nrd - Lowe HF150-, playdx yg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Cultura AM 1200 kHz, SP --- Estava ouvindo a Cultura 1200 kHz, por volta da 17h horario de Brasúlia, qdo às 18H, depois do Noticiário anunciaram o prefixo, e citaram as ondas curtas de 31 e 16 Metros. Sendo que os TX's estão Off, como uma emissora que toca a Boa e ótima música Brasileira, fica em silêncio nas ondas curtas? Acho que é o dever daqueles que administram ou dirigem, terem a sensibilidade de saber que o povo precisa ouvir rádio onde a internet não chega ou até mesmo, onde nenhuma emissora pega. E LEVAR A MUSICA BRASILEIRA ATÉ ONDE A ONDA CURTA PODE CHEGAR. Lamentavel! Obs: Parabéns a Rádio Record que voltou aos 31 metros (Neto Silva, Planaltina DF, April 17, radioescutas yg via DXLD) É isso mesmo, estes pessoal acha que todo mundo tem computador e muito menos Internet com os salários sempre achatando o pessoal mais humilde ouve rádio. Daí para se comunicar com a emissora eles só menciona o email, caramba, praticamente quem ouve é principalmente em Ondas curtas; são pessoas que estao distante de Computador assim não dá... py2255swl http://qsldobrasil.blogspot.com (Rama Ramazzot, 18 April, ibid.) Neto, A situação da Rádio Cultura certamente não é diferente da emissora de TV. Há anos o governo do PSDB faz uma verdadeira cruzada de sucateamento e abandono visando a privatização (ou doação, como foram todas as privatizações feitas desde o governo FHC) de um patrimônio formado às custas do sangue do povo de São Paulo. Não quero me aprofundar no assunto pois o tema gera uma discussão política que está fora do escopo da lista, mas resumidamente é isso que acontece. Posso estar errado, mas sinceramente não creio que retornem às ondas curtas justamente pelo que expus acima. 73 (Ivan Dias Jr. - Sorocaba/SP, http://ivandias.wordpress.com http://twitter.com/ivandiasjr ibid.) O novo projeto da Cultura de OC está parado há 3 anos, previa 1 novo local de parque de transmissões mais adequado, afastado do grande centro urbano e características do solo melhores paa refletir as Ondas Curtas. Em 16 metros haveria 1 tx novo de 10 Kw em 17815 Khz, e o outro TX de 31 metros 9615 Khz de 10 Kw anterior. Mas até agora, nada. Com certeza 10 kW em 16 metros cobriria todo o Brasil a partir dos 800 e 900 kms, já que nesta faixa o Tx de 31 metros daria conta por cobrir a partir de 300 e 400 kms (Edison Bocorny Jr., Novo Hambugo RS, ibid.) ** BURMA [non]. 11595, 15/4 2334, Democratic Voice of Burma, via Yerevan, Armenia, interview, talks in Burmese, compressed modulation, fair/good (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano Italy, Drake R-4C - Excalibur Pro - Elad FDM-S1, ant: T2FD 15 meters long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Algonquin College's FM operation, CKDJ 107.9 has an AM rebroadcaster on 1700 AM 'AM 1700' 'All Hit Radio' and 'AIR Radio 1700', etc, it runs CHR format This is not on the Industry Canada lisrting but seems to be semi-legit. Perhaps it is running 100mW to keep it legal??? They claim on Facebook:AIR Algonquin is an all hits radio station broadcasting live from the Woodroffe Campus of Algonquin College. Tune in on your AM dial at 1700 or online at www.algonquinair.com http://www.algonquinair.com/ http://www.facebook.com/airam1700/info 73 Best of DX (Shawn Axelrod VE4DX1SMA, VEPC4SWL, Winnipeg MB, April 17, amfmtfdx at qth.net via DXLD) CKDJ is in Ottawa, Ont.; is Woodroffe nedar there? (gh) ** CANADA. TRIBUTES TO RCI POUR IN FROM AROUND THE WORLD The Montreal Gazette April 11, 2012 http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Tributes+pour+from+around+world/6444036/story.html “Such a sad time for our family. My father was a Technician at RCI Transmitter Plant in Sackville, N.B., for 36 years. I use to work there during the summer months as a tour guide during the 1980s. Glad that my late father is no longer with us to witness the closing of the plant." Melinda Blakney, Florenceville-Bristol, Canada “This is absolutely dreadful. RCI has been one of the best shortwave radio stations and a much-needed voice of solid, objective reporting. I’ve been a loyal listener from the mid-1990s and I am really saddened by this news. I understand that the times are difficult and that cuts need to be made, but this is an incredibly short-sighted decision. The staff and RCI’s international listeners deserve better. Surely a plan can be devised that would keep RCI going.” Nenad Knezevic, Belgrade, Serbia “I’m at a loss for words. I’ve been listening to RCI on shortwave since the glory days of the 1970s. This is the loss of a great friend to me. I’ve enjoyed countless English broadcasts of RCI. I feel a huge emptiness upon losing Radio Canada International on shortwave!" Charles Ermatinger, St. Louis “What upsetting news! I listen to the Link at night — so insightful and enlightening! Why couldn’t the CBC have made cuts to the television instead? The Internet has usurped the role of the television, but radio is radio!!! I love the immediacy of radio! I will miss your voice most of all, Marcelise db, Ottawa “Shocking news, I didn’t really expect that the only reliable source of information about this beautiful country is going to be shut down. ... Hope you’ll change your decision and continue to broadcast, even only in English." Georgi Bancov, Troyan, Bulgaria “I’m sad to hear that the short wave service is being discontinued. Fifteen years ago, I moved to North Carolina to work for a few years. Of course, these were the days before Internet streaming radio and podcasts, so being able to hear Canadian content, news and accents made the transition a lot easier. So to those who worked at making those transmissions of home possible I raise a pint and say thank you it’s was really appreciated! Cheers!” mgcamp “There are places on Earth that just do not have Internet access yet. Many remote locations, in poorer countries. SW radio is their only means to get by. I guess we’re just abandoning them, to stay current with costs and technology. Very sad. BTW, the broadcast from (the Sackville) towers can be heard everywhere on Earth.” DM, New Brunswick. “It seems very short-sighted to cease Canadian broadcasting to the world. The astronomical expense of the Olympics are always sold to host countries’ citizens as providing many intangible benefits ... well surely the international broadcasts which promote and explain Canada, its systems, policies, culture, innovations and Canadian analysis of international events etc. is valuable to the government and the country. From what I’ve seen on radio discussions boards there will be no more broadcasts and most people laid off for the sake of $10 million ... peanuts, methinks.” BigC-Canuck “Contrary to what many Canadians may believe, there are Americans who don’t believe that Canada is a northern version of the USA, and shortwave radio is an excellent way to get that message across.” Dan Malloy, Everett, Mass. (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC CUTS GUT CHERISHED INTERNATIONAL SERVICE Cuts will start this year, with a $27.8-million reduction in government spending on the CBC's operations. A+ By CATHERINE SOLYOM, THE GAZETTE April 12, 2012 MONTREAL - Lost amid the auditor-general’s report last week on the F- 35 fighter planes and Canada raising the retirement age to 67, was news of the impending demise of Radio Canada International – the CBC’s international service, for many a lifeline to Canadian culture and politics, from as far away as Hanoi or Rio de Janeiro. While CBC, like other crown corporations and government departments, has to cut 10 per cent of its overall budget as a result of federal cutbacks, RCI, which is administered by the CBC but has long been its poor cousin, was told more than 80 per cent of its budget would be slashed, or $10 million of $12.3 million. As of June 25, there will no longer be any Russian or Portuguese language sections, there will be no more RCI newsroom, no more RCI programs, in fact, no more shortwave or satellite broadcasting at all, other than to direct listeners to the Internet, the CBC decided last week. RCI will retain a “Web presence” in five languages – but what kind of presence remains to be seen. The news was a severe blow to the staff at RCI, at least two-thirds – or about 40 – of whom can expect to receive pink slips April 25. But the death knell also struck listeners around the globe, who regularly tune in to RCI to hear news of Canada – or news from a Canadian perspective. “Upsetting,” “absolutely dreadful,” “shocking.” Those were the words listeners from Bulgaria to Missouri used to describe the end of RCI’s shortwave broadcasts after more than six decades on the air. Created by government decree, RCI first hit the airwaves in 1945, broadcasting in three languages – English, French and German – to Great Britain and Western Europe. RCI’s shortwave signals were said to be the clearest broadcast from North America. RCI then became, for a time, the official broadcaster for the newly created United Nations, and as the Cold War divided East and West, RCI’s broadcasts focused on the Soviet bloc countries, to restore to listeners behind the Iron Curtain the ability to hear an unbiased account of world events. Sheldon Harvey, the president of the Canadian International DX Club, and a longtime shortwave enthusiast, said the international service, over the decades, has gained a stellar reputation, ranked just behind the BBC World Service – despite its relatively tiny budget – for its balanced, neutral perspective. It was never a propaganda tool, like the Voice of America, he said. [sic; see below] “They have table scraps thrown at them, yet are able to put together such high-quality broadcasts for people around the world,” Harvey said. “To see that tossed aside is really sad.” The CBC has said it decided to “transform” RCI “consistent with currently shifting media consumption behaviours, as well as strategies adopted by other public broadcasters.” The BBC, Voice of America, Deutsche Welle and RFI have reduced their shortwave services in some markets, the CBC points out. On the other hand, China Radio International is scooping up as many frequencies as possible. But the idea that listeners in other countries can all go online is farcical, Harvey said. Only 22 per cent of the population in the developing world has access to the Internet, whereas anyone with a wind-up or solar-powered radio can receive shortwave transmissions. What’s more, governments can block the Internet – as they have in Iran, China and parts of the Arab world – all part of today’s Iron Curtain. But as was seen during the Cold War, it’s almost impossible to block shortwave frequencies. If the Soviet Union jammed some frequencies, broadcasters could simply switch to others, Harvey said, and the cat and mouse game continued. Up till now, RCI also has served to introduce people to Canada during peacetime, whether as potential visitors, trading partners or immigrants, Harvey said. Shutting down its broadcasts is like closing down embassies and trade missions. “It’s waiting for people to come to us, as opposed to knocking on their doors ... I don’t think the government realizes how much of the world they are cutting off by doing this.” Daryl Copeland, a Canadian diplomat for 28 years and now a research associate at the University of Ottawa, says shutting down the Russian and Portuguese sections is particularly myopic of the CBC. In foreign affairs parlance, the BRIC countries – Brazil, Russia, India and China – are the new focal points for power, and RCI is one of the few diplomatic tools that are left. You can’t address global problems like climate change, bio-diversity or health pandemics militarily, he said. The only way to seek to be influential on these issues is to attract others by the power of argument, and having a voice is crucial. “CBC’s mandate is to inform Canadians. But it’s important to have a broader perspective here. ... If you believe this country has something to say, you can’t support these cuts.” For Wojtek Gwiazda, the host of Masala Canada, RCI was about reaching Canadians abroad, but also about making Canada understandable to non- Canadians. “When I thought of my listeners, I wanted them to arrive here better informed about Canada than the average Canadian,” Gwiazda said. “Our job was to let people know about this really interesting country with all these talented people.” Though they could never measure the number of listeners the way we can now measure the number of page views on a website, its potential was and is still enormous, he added. In 1990 it was estimated that RCI had an audience of 16 million. Gwiazda, speaking on behalf of the RCI Action Committee, a union lobby formed in the 1990s to fight successive rounds of budget cuts, fancies himself a bit of a Don Quixote. But this last windmill may prove unbeatable. “It’s been a death by a thousand cuts. I think we can resuscitate (RCI), but we can’t handle this cut.” If the CBC doesn’t realize that, the government should, he said. For a detailed history of RCI, go to http://www.rcinet.ca/english/about-us/historique/ © Copyright (c) THE GAZETTE (via Ian McFarland, BC, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DXLD) Description of VOA as "a propaganda tool" is a Montreal Gazette quote of the week: see U S A ** CANADA. Re: ANUNCIAN EL CIERRE DE LAS TRANSMISIONES EN ONDA CORTA DE RADIO CANADÁ INTERNACIONAL Lamento hondamente el anunciado cierre de las emisiones de Radio Canadá por Onda corta, y la consiguiente perdida de sus espacios programáticos. Es un shock... pero después de unos días de reflexión entiendo que: Por más que las nuevas tecnologías den el vuelco a la página de la historia de las comunicaciones internacionales, es un problema a mi entender de dinero. Y el dinero, está muchas veces peleado con el ideal cultural. Hubiera sido mejor mantener la multiplataforma (onda corta coexistiendo con Internet), pero cortaron por donde la cuerda es más floja. EE.UU ha decidido mantener Greenville, pues entiende que en caso de un eventual corte en las redes de Internet, la HF mantendrá su voz sin fronteras. Me duele el destino de Hörby, en Suecia en vias de ser desmantelada, y así otros centros emisores. Lo que sí es seguro que las audiencias que pierde la OC es porque las alternativas de escuchar disminuyen y no ha sido por los oyentes mismos. El problema del ruido de recepción fue lo primero que dañó mi rutina de escucha; de eso no se habla mucho y cada vez el tema es más grave. No era el caso de las potentes ondas de RCI y otras grandes emisoras internacionales. Y esas audiencias que se pierden no son ganadas - de momento - en las páginas web de las emisoras. Rara vez escucho radios internacionales en la Web. No sé por qué. Me pasa que pierdo la fidelidad y que para ganarla en la Internet hay mucha más competencia. Además, la computadora es multifuncional (como ninguna otra herramienta conocida antes). Y su uso cotidiano, deja relegado - en mi caso - el hábito de escucha al procesamiento de mensajes, trabajos con gráficos, bajada y subida de archivos, la escucha de música bajada por mí, de acuerdo a mis gustos y eleciones... Al menos ese es mi caso. Sólo con la popularización de receptores de radio via streaming (acá en Uruguay todavía no se ve nada), salvo en algunos celulares de costo alto, podrá uno tener el nuevo puesto de escucha en a mesa de luz, para escuchar al final de la jornada el resumen informativo del día u otras notas culturales e informativas. Y es porque dispongo de adsl. En un tiempo cercano, el pais estará conectado totalmente por fibra óptica y espero que los costos bajen. Así como la generalizació n de hotspots de WiFi, confiables y decentemente funcionando. La necesidad de estar informado y nutrido con diferentes fuentes de información y generación de contenidos, aparte de las emisoras locales, sigue siendo una necesidad. A pesar de la cantidad de radios en el dial local, muy poco es lo que se puede rescatar de ellas. Y por muchos años ha sido así. Siempre he necesitado de la referencia y el enfoque informativo desde afuera. Con otros puntos de vista y con mejores calidades que las que se han estado aportando por muchos años a nivel local, salvo la comidilla diaria de noticias. ¡Que persistencia hay en Uruguay de seguir masticando noticias de la semana pasada!. Cuántas otros temas faltan en el dial uruguayo. Mala decisión. Pero es la billetera. Me pregunto también que será del Northern Service. Canadá quedará más lejos de América Latina, sin duda. Pero parece que el ombligo y el estómago importa mucho en estos tiempos (Horacio Nigro Geolkiewsky, Montevideo, Uruguay, April 9, condiglist yg via DXLD) Cierre de Radio Canada Internacional Página de reacción ante el cierre de Radio Canada Internacional. No creo para nada, que se pueda revertir, pero al menos pueden escuchar el eco de la decisión. http://rciaction.org/blog/what-you-can-do/ (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, condiglist yg via DXLD) Has multi-lingual versions, including English: RCI ACTION COMMITTEE – BLOG Fighting to protect the international mandate, programs and autonomy of Radio Canada International WHAT YOU CAN DO – 2012 cuts As a result of the huge 80% budget cut announced at Radio Canada International on April 4, 2012 we are working on an action plan – part of it involves your help. Details of cuts: http://tinyurl.com/6qco7hu Thanks for your support! It is CBC/Radio-Canada, not Canada’s federal government, that so severely cut the budget and services of Radio Canada International. But it is the government that can step in, stop the cut, and protect RCI. How can you help stop this drastic cut of 80% of Radio Canada International’s budget? Please write to Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, and Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore. (See addresses below.) If they are your Member of Parliament, please mention that as well. Ask whether CBC/Radio-Canada should be deciding how strong or weak Canada’s Voice to the World should be? Whether they feel comfortable with the fact our Chinese audience will now be cut off from RCI’s uncensored news about Canada and the World. We feel because of the continuing cuts to RCI since 1990 See: http://rciaction.org/blog the government should give RCI financial autonomy and take RCI’s budget away from CBC/Radio-Canada’s control. If you agree with us, please make your point of view heard. We have very little time to achieve our goal. We’re counting on you. Some points you might want to bring up with the ministers or your Member of Parliament: RCI’s budget has been cut by more than 80% – from $12.3 million to $2.3 million RCI newsroom will be eliminated, all newscasts cut RCI will no longer be a broadcaster, whether on shortwave or satellite Chinese audience will be cut off from uncensored news from RCI because only shortwave reaches the Chinese, the RCI website is blocked by China Important potential trading partners such as China, India, Russia, Brazil will be cut off from news from Canada, because the RCI website is blocked or the Internet not as accessible as in North America As Canadians we feel it’s essential Canada have a Voice to the World producing programming tailored for an audience not familiar with Canada Canada’s Voice to the World has been a respected source of journalism for the past 67 years Please consider sending an e-mail to the three ministers, even if you live outside Canada. If you are in Canada, you can send letters free to the ministers, MPs and Senators. Thank you, RCI Action Committee rciaction @ yahoo.ca http://twitter.com/rci_action http://rciaction.org/blog Addresses: Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird E-mail: john.baird @ parl.gc.ca Mailing address: Hon. John Baird 418N Centre Block House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 Canada’s Finance Minister Jim Flaherty: E-mail: jim.flaherty @ parl.gc.ca Mailing address: Hon. Jim Flaherty 435-S Centre Block House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore E-mail: james.moore @ parl.gc.ca Mailing address: Hon. James Moore 15 Eddy Street, 12th Floor House of Commons Gatineau, QC K1A 0M5 You’ll find e-mail and mailing addresses of all Members of Parliament here: http://www.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?TimePeriod=Current&Language=E You’ll find e-mail and mailing addresses for all Senators here: http://www.parl.gc.ca/SenatorsMembers/Senate/SenatorsBiography/ISenator.asp?Language=E (via WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DXLD) Radio Canada International Carissimos, Nos programas da RCI em PP (Canada Direto), ouvimos a menção da locutora de devermos enviar as nossas manifestações à emissora sobre a descontinuidade das transmissões em ondas curtas a partir de 1º de julho. Acompanhei o trecho das cartas enviadas até aqui e não ouvi nenhum nome conhecido nosso, destes que frequentam as listas com esta. Estou enviando o meu IR nestes dias, e ao mesmo tempo também estarei escrevendo sobre o meu descontentamento com a saída do ar do Canada Direto e das demais transmissões. Os endereços eletrônicos para os quais devemos escrever são: info @ rcinet.ca brasil @ rcinet.ca correo @ cbc.ca canadadireto @ rci.ca As mensagens podem ser enviadas em português mesmo, o Canada Direto levará as mesmas adiante à respectiva diretoria. Algumas mensagens enviadas por ouvintes brasileiros foram bastante contundentes (algumas até radicais), que foram lidas no ar sem problemas. Att., (Rudolf Grimm, http://dxways-br.blogspot.com radioescutas yg via DXLD É verdade, Grimm. Precisamos relatar o quanto estas emissoras são importantes não só para nós como também para os anônimos: agricultores dos sítios, borracheiros, caminhoneiros dentre outros (joobatistavale, ibid.) !Deixei de ser a pessoa indicada para responder as emissoras e governos que insistem em suspender a programação em ondas curtas para o Brasil. Não tenho paciência com tais atitudes. Esse desprezo não é apenas aos radioescutas mas ao povo brasileiro. As transmissões em ondas curtas, porque o rádio ainda é o meio mais democrático e democratizador da informação, principalmente nas regiões íngremes do país, representam o braço de amizade cultural, política e econômica de um país com o outro. No plano de vida pessoal, por isso ficou chateado e impaciente, devo a minha formação acadêmica em História às emissoras de ondas curtas internacionais. Estudante do ensino fundamental, ganhei um radinho verde, todo arrrebentado, eu tinha que amarar com arame para fixar as pilhas. À luz do lampião de querosene, ficava das 18 às 23 horas escutando transmissões internacionais, noticiários, fazendo anotações, escrevendo cartas e levando aqueles dados para as aulas no Colégio. Aquilo que marcou tanto, em política internacional, história contemporânea, que decidi cursar História. Essas emissoras não calculam o quanto elas importam e contribuem para que estudantes melhorem seus conhecimentos, tenham gosto e dinamismo pela leitura, despertam a consciência crítica dos jovens. Eu morava num sítio, 40 km longe da cidade e de lá, fui para a capital do Estado me formar, graças as transmissões de ondas curtas. Dá para entender esse processo de suspensão das mesmas? http://nelsonwernecksodre.blogspot.com/ http://isebianohistorico.blogspot.com http://historianova.brasil.zip.net/ http://cafehistoria.ning.com/profile/AcirdaCruzCamargo http://www.recantodasletras.com.br/autores/ acir MSN: acirpr @ hotmail.com (Acir Camargo, 17 April, ibid.) Here are some old articles on RCI I found: [HISTORY] POWERFUL PEOPLE PROTEST CRIPPLING CUTS TO RCI BUDGET Toronto Star, The (Ontario, Canada) - Saturday, August 17, 1991 Author: Peter Truman There is a certain irony in the fact that protests about the cuts to Radio Canada International, perhaps the least known CBC service as far as the Canadian taxpayer is concerned, now seem least likely to fade away. No doubt opponents of CBC's decision to close some local stations and reduce regional programming, the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, for example, will continue the campaign to restore general CBC funding. But the RCI cut, which reduced the budget of the widely respected international short-wave service from about $20 million annually to $13.5 million, although small in relative terms, meant cutting RCI staff by half, and reducing RCI's own productions by a devastating three-quarters. This means that most of the programs tailored for an international audience have been replaced by unedited CBC English- and French-language domestic programming. And increasingly, there are powerful people in this country who believe that in savaging RCI we have effectively shot ourselves in the foot for a paltry $7 million. Among those in RCI's corner is Senator Finlay MacDonald, an influential member of the Tory caucus, who stood in the Senate on June 19 to ask why CBC and the government, between them, had chosen to "gut almost completely" what he called our "most prominent and efficient method of presenting Canada to the rest of the world." The Coalition to Restore Full RCI Funding, a Montreal-based umbrella group led by four former RCI employees and a leading short-wave enthusiast, described itself as "overwhelmed" by Senator MacDonald's decision to go public. Earlier, Senator MacDonald, who is the chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Communications and Transportation, had written to the membership of his own Conservative caucus, noting the "crippling reduction" in RCI's operating budget, and adding: "As a government, we have given the impression that we have saved the short-wave service, but I feel I must now raise the question, at what price? While every other country is increasing its funding of international broadcasting, why is it that Canada is cutting back on its international service?" Senator Ray Perrault, a Liberal who was in the Trudeau cabinet, spoke in support of Senator MacDonald's intervention, and related an anecdote of his own: "Recently, when on an offshore mission, I was totally embarrassed when the presentation of Radio Canada International was abruptly cut at the 30-minute point, in mid-sentence. When I spoke to the Radio International people later, they told me that the budget restraints were such that they could not afford to broadcast for longer than 30 minutes. That is why they had interrupted the program As It Happens at the halfway point." This is not just a comedown for travelling senators or for other Canadians overseas, but for an estimated 12 to 16 million foreign RCI listeners worldwide, who unhesitatingly ranked CBC's short-wave signal as one of the best, right up there with the BBC's World Service, Radio France International, Radio Nederlands and other prestigious broadcasters with much larger budgets. In the view of the International Council for Canadian Studies, composed of 16 national and multinational associations of Canadian studies throughout the world, the decision to reduce RCI programming was extremely short-sighted and a false economy. "For many of the professors involved in the teaching of Canada around the world," the association commented, "RCI programming is a critical source of information, and as such, it should be preserved." Sheldon Harvey, a member of the coalition's core group and the president of the Canadian International DX Club, a national radio monitoring group, has been instrumental in the struggle to restore funding. Ian McFarland, known around the world as the host of an RCI program for short-wave hobbyists, and who now works for Radio Japan in Tokyo, once dubbed Harvey "the short-wave evangelist." I get the impression that Harvey doesn't know the meaning of the word quit, and can't imagine losing the current argument to reconstitute RCI. In fact, he told me recently that, "when services are restored," he hopes the coalition will be consulted on a plan of action to ensure that RCI gets some sort of immunity from austerity-minded governments in the future. Copyright (c) 1991, Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved (via Artie Bigley, to Ian McFarland, via DXLD) Ian, Do you recall the month and year of the Listening Digest? I recall that show but not sure of the date. I listened to all the shows in the 80s from about 1982 to 1990 (Artie Bigley, ibid.) Hello again Artie. Many thanks indeed for those two articles. The Toronto Star article brought back many sad memories for me of course, along with countless RCI listeners. I can recall seeing this article at the time. I was heading for Tokyo within two days of those severe cuts to RCI. The article from the "Oakville Beaver" newspaper, on the other hand, brought back good memories of my very long association with the ODXA in Toronto and attendance at many ODXA conventions over the years. As to when the DX Digest/SWL Digest got started - my memory isn't precise on that score. However, I do recall that the RCSW Club program was chopped in 1975. I think it was in the Fall sometime. Two years passed without a similar program on what was then the CBC International Service. Then, I was asked if I could prepare a 5 minute weekly feature that would go on most, if not all of the English weekend broadcasts. Needless to say, I jumped at the chance. That little feature slowly grew by a minute or so over a period of months. I think I was pretty crafty in doing that gradually so that nobody really noticed! Then, at some point I was able to turn that short feature into a full fledged program of about 20 minutes which went into all the weekend broadcasts. Then, after about 14 years and more than 700 editions (with no repeats to cover holidays and other absences!) it all came to a crashing halt on Black Friday, March 22, 1991. And the bad news for RCI just keeps going and going and going like the Energizer Bunny! Cheers & best 73 (Ian McFarland, to and via Artie Bigley, DXLD) Tribute to RCI on CBC's 'Q' --- Hi, I listened to the CBC programme 'Q' yesterday and it started by talking about the RCI closure, mostly about 'the towers' - the shortwave antennas in Sackville, a landmark in the region; and how listening to shortwave has to be considered 'antique' nowadays, although the host sounded quite sentimental about the closure. The connection to the Q programme was that the next Q show was announced to come from Monton, New Brunswick, just around the corner from Sackville. Check out the Q episodes on http://www.cbc.ca/q/episodes/ 73, (Eike Bierwirth, This week in Muskoka / Ontario, April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA [and non]. 17735, April 13 at 1914, RCI in French is on- frequency, making a SAH, not an AH, with presumed Tunisia. Yet, at 1951 recheck, now there`s an audible het as usual, RCI on the low side. Does this Sackville transmitter ``slip`` on and off-frequency? 2000 news in English. 17735, 15330, 15235, Sunday April 15 at 2003, `Maple Leaf Mailbag` again dedicated to reading letters of support for RCI. This week Terry Haig is joined by Marc Montgomery, and during the first half, Paloma Martínez of the Spanish department, for whom English is her third language. They maintain there is a ``glimmer of hope``, ``it`s not done yet; we are putting up resistance to overturn an internal CBC decision``. It`s not the government which decided to kill RCI, but the CBC as part of the budget cuts government imposed. Therefore, appeal to government, legislators, over the heads of CBC. Paloma read letters (in English, translated?), mainly from Latin America including some familiar names, such as Ernesto Paulero in Argentina, Jorge García Rangel in Venezuela; and several were from unknown females. Also quoted from support messages in the Montréal Gazette article of last Thursday. Toward the end, Avrom Shtern asked pertinent questions about what would happen with the relay exchange deals at Sackville --- not answered, but they pointed out that altho RCI used to own the transmitters, now they are just renting from CBC, which in effect is evicting RCI. Dozens more letters are standing by to be read next week (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA [and non]. A-12 of Radio Canada International until June 26 when the station will cease transmissions of shortwave. In the footsteps of Radio Bulgaria!! Arabic 0200-0230 on 5950 SMG 100 kW / 114 deg to N/ME 0200-0230 on 7230 WOF 100 kW / 114 deg to N/ME 0300-0330 on 5990 WOF 100 kW / 114 deg to N/ME 0300-0330 on 7230 SMG 100 kW / 114 deg to N/ME 1900-1930 on 15180 WOF 500 kW / 114 deg to N/ME 1900-1930 on 15235 SAC 250 kW / 073 deg to NCAf Chinese 0000-0100 on 9690 KIM 100 kW / 225 deg to EaAs 0000-0100 on 12015 PHT 250 kW / 349 deg to EaAs 1100-1200 on 9490 PHT 250 kW / 332 deg to EaAs 1100-1200 on 9570 KIM 100 kW / 205 deg to EaAs 1500-1600 on 6110 YAM 300 kW / 290 deg to EaAs 1500-1600 on 11730 YAM 250 kW / 240 deg to EaAs 2200-2300 on 9525 KIM 100 kW / 225 deg to EaAs 2200-2300 on 9870 KIM 100 kW / 305 deg to EaAs English 0000-0100 on 11700 KUN 150 kW / 177 deg to SEAs 1500-1600 on 11675 KUN 500 kW / 283 deg to SoAf 1500-1600 on 15125 URU 500 kW / 212 deg to SoAs 1500-1530 on 17815 SMG 125 kW / 085 deg to SoAs DRM mode 1800-1900 on 9530 KAS 100 kW / 239 deg to EaAf 1800-1900 on 11765 SKN 300 kW / 160 deg to EaAf 1800-1900 on 17810 SKN 250 kW / 175 deg to NCAf 2000-2100 on 15330 SAC 250 kW / 105 deg to CeAf 2000-2100 on 15235 SAC 250 kW / 073 deg to NEAf 2000-2100 on 17735 SAC 250 kW / 105 deg to CeAf French 1900-2000 on 11765 KAS 100 kW / 239 deg to EaAf 1900-2000 on 13730 SMG 250 kW / 199 deg to CeAf 1900-2000 on 15320 SKN 250 kW / 180 deg to NWAf 1900-2000 on 17735 SAC 250 kW / 105 deg to NWAf 2100-2200 on 9525 SMG 100 kW / 184 deg to CeAf 2100-2200 on 15235 SAC 250 kW / 073 deg to NCAf 2100-2200 on 15330 SAC 250 kW / 105 deg to CeAf 2100-2200 on 17735 SAC 250 kW / 105 deg to CeAf 2300-2330 on 9525 KIM 100 kW / 225 deg to SEAs Portuguese Fri-Sun 2100-2130 on 15455 SAC 250 kW / 163 deg to SEAm 2100-2130 on 17860 SAC 250 kW / 163 deg to SEAm 2200-2230 on 17860 SAC 250 kW / 163 deg to SEAm 2300-2330 on 13760 SAC 250 kW / 163 deg to SEAm Russian 1500-1530 on 15325 WOF 250 kW / 070 deg to EaEu 1600-1630 on 15325 WOF 250 kW / 070 deg to EaEu Spanish 2200-2230 on 11990 SAC 250 kW / 176 deg to SoAm 2200-2230 on 15455 SAC 250 kW / 176 deg to SoAm 2300-2330 on 11990 SAC 250 kW / 176 deg to SoAm 2300-2330 on 15455 SAC 250 kW / 176 deg to SoAm 0000-0030 on 11990 SAC 250 kW / 176 deg to SoAm 0000-0030 on 13760 SAC 250 kW / 240 deg to CeAm 0100-0130 on 11990 SAC 250 kW / 212 deg to CeAm (DX Re Mix News 16 April via DXLD) ** CANADA. 6160, April 16 at 0619, DW English report about fishponds. So by a total fluke, DW is on shortwave to N America, within CBC Overnight via CKZN. However that program`s schedule at http://www.cbc.ca/overnight/schedule.html shows during the 3-4 am hour on Mondays it`s supposed to carry RCI`s `The Link`; and DW is nowhere on it, altho a previous page has the DW logo as one of the contributors. Update? Could DW have been on CKZU instead? No, CBC Radio 1 schedule for 11 pm Sunday local time shows `This American Life`. However, there is CCI from the other Canadian, making a SAH of about 4 Hz, so the two are now much closer in frequency; at 0701 I hear the same SAH, as their unsynched CBC newscasts are echoing (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA [and non]. MI Buzzboard thread / CBC French stations in SW Ontario http://mibuzzboard.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=34873 Interesting thread that addresses both programming and technical issues (Tom Sanders, April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Anglophones in SW Ontario are pissed at all the CBC French frequencies (gh) ** CANADA. CBC SHOULD NOT PROVIDE FREE STREAMING MUSIC SAYS "PRIVATES" Digital media --- Coalition targets CBC`s free music site http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/coalition-targets-cbcs-free-music-site/article2399162/ by STEVE LADURANTAYE MEDIA REPORTER, Globe and Mail Update Published Thursday, Apr. 12, 2012 6:00AM EDT Last updated Thursday, Apr. 12, 2012 1:25PM EDT; 407 comments A number of Canadian media companies have joined forces to try to shut down a free music website recently launched by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., claiming it threatens to ruin the music business for all of them. The group, which includes Quebecor Inc., Stingray Digital, Cogeco Cable Inc. (CCA-T50.60-1.14-2.20%), the Jim Pattison Group and Golden West Radio, believes that CBCmusic.ca will siphon away listeners from their own services, including private radio stations and competing websites that sell streaming music for a fee. More related to this story - CBC cuts current-affairs shows, 88 news jobs - CBC's bet on satellite radio could pay dividends - Music industry wants more royalties from CBC The coalition is expected to expand soon to include Rogers Communications Inc. (RCI.B-T39.910.210.53%) and Corus Entertainment Inc. (CJR.B-T23.96-0.51-2.08%), two of the largest owners of radio stations in Canada. It intends to file a formal complaint with the CRTC, arguing that the broadcaster has no right under its mandate to compete with the private broadcasters in the online music space. The fight is part of a broader dispute about the role of the CBC, whose federal funding was slashed in Finance Minister Jim Flaherty`s recent budget, and about how online music services should compensate rights holders for music played online. The stakes are high. Music sales are estimated at about $500-million a year in Canada and digital sales account for 34 per cent of the market, while companies such as Corus earn hundreds of millions in revenue from radio advertising on music stations. Dozens of competing online services are trying to sign up customers to their apps and websites, with most offering streaming music that has been selected to suit their tastes, in exchange for monthly fees that can be as high as $20. ``The only music that you can hear for free is when the birds sing,`` said Stingray CEO Eric Boyko, whose company runs the Galaxie music app that charges users $4.99 a month for unlimited listening. ``There is a cost to everything, yet CBC does not seem to think that is true.`` The CBC would not comment yesterday, saying it had just been made aware of the complaint. The companies argue they must charge customers to offset royalty costs which are triggered every time a song is played, while the CBC gets around the pay-per-click problem because it is considered a non-profit corporation. They want Ottawa to intervene and they`ve offered Federal Heritage Minister James Moore some alternatives: Shut the site down, force it to play only Canadian music, or insist that it charge for access in the same way private broadcasters do. Mr. Moore said he could not comment until he receives the letter. ``The CBC is using the preferential royalty rates it receives from the various collective societies because of its status as a non-profit public broadcaster to make the service viable in the long term,`` the group wrote in a letter to be delivered to the minister today. ``We asked that the CBC be compelled to justify its actions and explain how the launch of the CBC Music service is not competitive with existing services offered by private broadcasters and how it is not damaging to the industry.`` Media executives aren`t the only ones who have expressed concern. When the CBC service was launched in February, the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers said that when it set a flat fees for the more than 100,000 music publishers it represents, it never envisioned a constant stream of free music flooding the Internet. It plans to revisit the royalty scheme in light of the CBC service, which has proven exceedingly popular. As of last week, listeners had streamed 4.2 million hours of music. The broadcasters pointed out that because of the CBC`s recent budget cuts, which amount to about $115-million over the next three years, the corporation will record fewer live music broadcasts and introduce advertising on its Radio 2 network. They worry that the music service foreshadows broader CBC ambitions to cut into their profits. ``These actions further distances the corporation from its mandate, while placing it directly on a collision course with private broadcasters who can only rely on advertising and subscription revenues to sustain their services,`` the broadcasters warned. (via Dan Say, alt.radio.networks.cbc via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** CANADA. CKOC, Hamilton Ontario, 1150, full data logo/flag eQSL in 64 days for English airmail report and 1 IRC. V/s Chris Fernick, Chief Engineer (Al Muick, Williamsport, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA [non]. SRI LANKA, 15270, BVB in Chinese heard on Thur April 12 via SLBC relay Trincomalee, at 1100-1115 UT, TX off at 1115:03 UT. ID and address given at 1114 UT, POB 425, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. S=7 signal on remote unit in Brisbane-AUS, S=9+10dB in Nagoya-JPN, S=9 even in Tokyo-JPN. 15270, 1100-1115 43S,44S 125kW 45deg ant217 Tue-Thu CLN MBR Chinese. 15270, 1100-1130 43S,44S 125kW 45deg ant217 Fri-Mon CLN MBR Chinese. Not at 1405-1430 UT! (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews April 12, dxldyg via DXLD) and even the time slot to China via Trincomalee, no more at 1405-1435 (ex B11). Now it only remains EiBi. Thank you Wolfgang for the reply. (Luca Botto Fiora, Rapallo (Genova), Italy, dxldyg via DXLD) ** CHILE. 17635-17640-17645, 15/4 1915, CVC, DRM, in Spanish, but voice audible only some times, so not usable. No label! (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano Italy, Drake R-4C - Excalibur Pro - Elad FDM-S1, ant: T2FD 15 meters long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. [6035]: Unable to hear Bhutan/BBS here; had only PBS Yunnan from tune-in 1157 till 1509 sign-off; 1514-1509 with non-stop classical western music (as I have heard in the past just before sign- off); usual ID 1200 “This is the Voice of Shangri-La brought to you by Yunnan Radio”. BBS running less than 50 kW? (Ron Howard, Monterey CA, SW Bulletin April 15 via DXLD) ** CHINA [and non]. 17550, April 12 at 0310, JBA signal from something; receiver still tuned here after unID and KUWAIT earlier, when turned back on. HFCC shows CNR at 0100-1030, 100 kW, 251 degrees from Beijing site. Aoki adds it`s CNR 1 from Beijing 572 site in particular. 21650, April 12 at 0311 Chinese with occasionally good peaks, and CCI. 21595, April 12 at 0312, more Chinese, and an echo apart from 21650; by 0359 it`s JBA, and off at 0400* after timesignal. 21480, April 12 at 0400, CJKT/ZRGD ID, with CCI. These all match HFCC and Aoki for R. Free Asia in Mandarin, one hour at a time from TINIAN: 03-04 on 21650 and 21595, 04-05 on 21480, and of course all jammed which is mainly what I was hearing. 9760 & 9765, Apr 13 at 1322, CRI English unusually adjacent to itself, both weak, a reverb apart. HFCC and EiBi show: 9760 at 12-14, 500 kW, 135 degrees from Kunming, and 9765 at 13-15, 500 kW, 292 degrees from Xi`an 9760 collides with VOA `Jazz America` at 13-14 weekends; 9765 is no longer in use by REE/Costa Rica before 1500 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. EAST JAMMERSTAN: 13970 & 16100, Crash & Bang Chinese Opera Music Jammer; 2237-2241, 9-Apr; Both weak; no others found (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9890, CRI, 4/10, 1030. Chinese music. Thought at first to be Firedrake, but was legit music program. A jammer heard, splashing over from 9885. Have RFA listed, but not at this particular hour. Bandscan showed real Firedrakes on 11500, 12500, 12980, all good (Rick Barton, El Mirage AZ, HF equipment used at shack: Drake R-8 + S-77A, HQ-120X , HQ-200 , SP-600, indoor loop, outdoor Slinky, ABDX April 17 via DXLD) Firedrake April 12, after 1330: 11500, very poor at 1343 12980, good at 1342 13130, very good at 1341 15500, good at 1336 with het on lo side 15560, good at 1336 with het on lo side 15785, very good at 1339: so much for Galei Zahal, totally blown away if it`s still here. If they had any sense they would have gone back to 15850 --- or did some ute complain them away from that? 15940, very good at 1339; none in the `14s 16100, very poor at 1340 17450, very poor at 1340 Before 1400, things have already changed: 15490, very good at 1356 with het on 15492 15560, very good at 1356 15785, still very good at 1357 15940, very good at 1359 16100, very poor at 1359 17450, very poor at 1359 After 1400: 17570, good at 1421 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 14970, Firedrake, 4/12, 2320. crash-boom-bang! VG, with good // on 16902 [sic, means 16920?]. Both came back on and heard on 0020 recheck (Rick Barton, El Mirage AZ, HF equipment used at shack: Drake R-8 + S- 77A, HQ-120X , HQ-200 , SP-600, indoor loop, outdoor Slinky, ABDX April 17 via DXLD) Firedrake April 13: 15615, good at 1407. No thoro search today, but this one is quite reliable in this semihour: Aoki shows the target is ``15613* VOICE OF TIBET 1401-1430 1234567 Tibetan 100 131 Dushanbe- Yangiyul TJK 06848E 3829N VOTi a12`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Steven Handler's Firedrake Logs 4-14-12 1200-1300 GMT: Frequencies above and below those listed were checked. 11500, 1218 with excellent signal with unid SWBC station underneath. At 1251 also excellent signal with nothing underneath presumably targeting the Sound of Hope which uses this frequency 24/7 in the Mandarin language from Taiwan 4/14/12 (Handler-IL) 12300, 1222 good signal and 1252 fair signal presumably targeting the Sound of Hope (not heard) in the Mandarin language from Taiwan who uses this frequency 2000-1700. 4/14/12 (Handler-IL) 12980, 1223, 1253 Good signal presumably targeting the Sound of Hope (not heard) in the Mandarin language from Taiwan who uses this frequency 24/7. 4/14/12 (Handler-IL) 13130, 1223, 1253 good signal presumably targeting the Sound of Hope (not heard) in the Mandarin language from Taiwan who uses this frequency 2000-1700. 4/14/12 (Handler-IL) 13970, 1224 with weak signal and 1254 fair signal presumably targeting the Sound of Hope (not heard) in the Mandarin language from Taiwan who uses this frequency 24/7 (Handler-IL) 15450, TURKEY/CHINA, Voice of Turkey 1256 English with heard weak underneath presumably targeting the Voice of Tibet which uses 15447/15448 from 1200-1430 in the Tibetan language from Tajakistan. 4/14/12 (Handler-IL) 15970, 1226, 1255 with weak signal presumably targeting the Sound of Hope (not heard) in the Mandarin language from Taiwan who uses this frequency 24/7. 4/10/12. Also heard 1226, 1255 with weak signal. 4/14/12 (Steve Handler, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake April 14, before 1300, not a thoro search yet: 11500, poor at 1258, with CCI and flutter Circa 1330: 14970, fair at 1327, none in the 13s, 12s 15490, good at 1340, ex-15500 15500, fair at 1328 15550, fair at 1328 15560, fair at 1339, ex-15550 15760, very good at 1329 16100, good at 1330 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Here are the 1130-1200 4/15 Firedrake logs from me, nothing higher or lower in freq - Steve 13920, 1156 Excellent 14950, 1155 Excellent 15870, 1157 Good 16100, 1158 Good-Excellent 4/15 Firedrake, 1200-1250, nothing higher or lower-Steve Handler 12980, 1219 Fair signal. 1241 Poor signal 13130, 1220 Fair signal, 1241 JBA signal 13850, 1220 Excellent signal, 1242 Fair-Good signal 13920, 1221 Good signal, 1243 Fair signal 13970, 1221 Excellent signal, 1243 Good signal 15450, 1244 Fair-Good signal with het and Voice of Turkey in ENGLISH underneath 15545, 1222 Excellent signal w/het 15870, 1222, 1246 Fair signal 15900, 1224, 1246 Fair-Good signal 16100, 1224 Excellent signal, 1246 Good signal 16980, 1225, 1247 Fair signal (Steve Handler, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake April 15 circa 1330: 15500, very poor at 1330 with het on lo side 15550, very poor at 1330 with het on lo side 16100, poor at 1332 17450, very poor at 1332 None on the 14s, 13s, 12s (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 1350-1400 4/15 checked and found nothing higher or lower, only heard two frequencies in use: 15560, 1359-1400 s/off Fair signal 16100, 1359 fair signal Only two freqs heard, nothing higher or lower: 12980, 1429 Fair-Good 15870, 1425 Poor-Fair Only one frequency heard in use, 1430-1500, nothing higher or lower: 12980, 1457 Poor That`s all for this AM Hi Glen[n], Here is 1230-1259 for Firedrake this morning 4-16-12 nothing higher or lower - Steve 13920, 1254 Fair 15450, 1255 Good w/het and Voice of Turkey in English underneath 15900, 1257 Poor 15970, 1257 Good 16100, 1257 Poor-Fair 16920, 1258 Good 17450, 1258 Poor-Fair Hi Glenn, here are the Firedrake logs 1300-1329 today April 16. It is interesting to note that frequencies that are close together such as 15970, 16100 and 16920 all have very different signal strengths. It supports the theory that multiple beams and or transmitters are being used. - steve 12980, 1324 Poor 13920, 1325 Good 15500, 1326 Fair 15550, 1326 Good w/het 15970, 1327 Good 16100, 1327 Poor 16920, 1327 Excellent 17450, 1328 JBA (Steve Handler, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake April 16, before 1400: 16920, good at 1338, 1342; none higher 16100, very poor at 1338 15970, fair at 1338 15900, fair at 1338 15560, fair at 1339, het on the lo side; none in the 14s 13920, good at 1342 After 1400: 15615, good at 1425 15800, fair at 1425 17570, fair-good at 1427 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake on 17250 at 1257 April 17 with a musical program. Very brief reception before it faded out. Again on 17450 at 1331. Equipment: Radio: Sangaen ATS 909 receiver; Antenna: 61 meter random length wire antenna with a "Slinky" toy in the middle; MFJ 1045C preselector. Location: Oneida, NY, Latitude = 43.0922 Longitude = 75.6568. 38 Miles East of Syracuse, NY. Corrections, assistance and suggestions are always welcomed (Alex Klauber, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) April 17 Firedrake scan from 1242 to 1258: 11500 fair 11970 fair 12300 fair 12980 fair 13830 fair 14400 fair 15450 poor 15870 fair (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Just came across the Chinese music jammer on 16980 kHz. S/off time was at 1300 UT exactly. 73 (Harald Kuhl, Germany, April 17, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Firedrake, April 17 after 1300: 15540, fair at 1309 with het on lo side 15490, poor at 1309 with het on lo side, from V of Tibets Before 1400: 17450, good at 1341 16980, very good at 1342 16920, JBA? At 1342 16100, very good at 1342 15900, good at 1343 15560, fair at 1345, ex-15540 in previous semihour 15490, poor at 1345 13880, very poor at 1346, new frequency? It is on the Aoki list as one of countless 100-watt nuisance channels of Sound of Hope from Taiwan 13830, fair at 1345, another unusual one 12980, fair at 1348; none in the 11s, 10s (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake 4-18-12 from Steve Handler Nothing higher or lower during all of my searches 11500, 1147 Excellent 13970, 1149 Fair 14700, 1150 JBA 14950, 1327 JBA-Poor 15500, 1327 Fair 15550, 1328 Fair-good 16100, 1329 Fair-good 16980, 1329 JBA (Steve Handler, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Firedrake April 18, circa 1330: 14950, very poor at 1329; none in the 13s, 12s 15500, very poor at 1332 with het on lo side 15555, very poor at 1332 with het from 15558 16100, fair at 1338, none in the 17s After 1400: 15615, poor at 1427 and now colliding directly with WEWN which has inexplicably moved up from 15610, or ex-9390; see U S A (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. 5909.935, 16/4 0111, Alcaraván Radio, nice songs, fair (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano Italy, Drake R-4C - Excalibur Pro - Elad FDM-S1, ant: T2FD 15 meters long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO. Ook is Congo (Rep.) Brazzaville in de lucht op 6115, best is vanaf 1800 UT. De transmitter valt ook soms uit tot een 5 tal min. of zelf geen audio en alleen de carrier. Program is in het frans en meestal hoort men nieuws http://www.box.com/s/ff0a6807effda6f5ea1e Link verwijst naar een opname, met ID op 3 sec., Succes. 73, (Maurits Van Driessche, Belgium, 2015 UT April 12, HCDX via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. 5066.34, 01/04 1805-1820, Radio Candip, Bunia, Democratic Congo. French news. Poor/fair (Giampiero Bernardini, with Dario Monferini at Bocca di Magra, Boc 27, Italy, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5066.3, R Tele Candip, COD, Bunia, 1735 12 Apr, low modulation fair, 13322. 73 Good DX! (Mauro Giroletti, -Swl 1510-, -IK2GFT-, -JRC525Nrd - Lowe HF150-, playdx yg via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. 5954.226, Radio República, 0140 YL en español with political message, no jamming at all, clear signal 12 April (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) That was UT Thursday, so is on the air every night for an hour or two? Or irregular? (gh, DXLD) 5954.26, 15/4 0203, Radio República, talks, IDs, weak, no jamming (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano Italy, Drake R-4C - Excalibur Pro - Elad FDM-S1, ant: T2FD 15 meters long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. 9675, April 16 at 0526, REE relay is back on alternate frequency instead of usual 9630, lo key interview continuing past auto timesignal at 0530. I wonder if it`s been there since 0200, or even +0000 with the DRM bihour? Are these mistakes, or just random choices? SPAIN [non]. 9635, April 17 at 0542, double-take, yes, REE COSTA RICA is here on wrong frequency, not 9630, and not 9675 alternate either, but containing numbers partially from both of them. 5995, April 17 at 0551, triple-take, as another Cariari transmitter is on wrong channel, instead of 5965; 5995 is used earlier in evening, so forgot to retune it? Outro to `Mundo Solidario` show, and at 0555 with a SAH, smothering Mali? Yet, the third transmitter in CR was still on correct frequency, 3350 at 0558. 5965 and 9630, April 18 at 0548 and 0551 respectively, REE relay is back on correct frequencies, 24 hours after landing on 5995 and 9635, by mistake? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 840, CMHW, Santa Clara, Villa Clara. 1046 April 11, 2012. Presumed the one with rundown on Villa Clara events and news items for the day by female (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater FL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 1120, 1120, -2335+ April 12, 2012. A definite Cuban, threshold (should be Radio Angulo or Radio Cadena Habana, both heard here per very old logs). No 1120 entries on the Molano EcuRed list. April 13 2340: baseball, mentions of Arequipo and Altamira, poor (Terry L Krueger, from the Clearwater, FL QTH with NRD-535, ICOM IC- R75 and Sangean PR-D5; 1 X roof dipole, 1 X room random wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. [Re 12-15:] Mauricio Molano Sánchez recently logged a new station on 1620 kHz, CMNL Radio Bayamo), he found out that it broadcasts from a transmitter site located in Bayamo. After reading his report, I searched for the exact transmitter site. The transmitter mast was easy to locate on Google Earth after looking for several seconds at recent hi-res, it's situated at: -76 3551 W 20 2046 N http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=20.346253,-76.597683&spn=0.03805,0.06727&t=k&hl=en Thanks to Mauricio for reporting this new station (Björn Tryba (editor, www.fmlist.org & www.mwlist.org), mwmasts yg via DXLD) Seems to be there already in 2004 image, so not new, on another fq? 73, (Mauno Ritola, ibid.) ** CUBA. After a long journey to Cuba, we came safely back home to a cold Denmark. We had a very good tour to this exciting but also remaining and poor country. The population was on the other hand very kindly and smiling, and we heard real Cuban orchestra music all over the places we went to. I had the opportunity to talk with a Cuban DX-er via an interpreter for a while the first day we were in Havana in the lobby of our hotel. There I also meet – by a coincidence a man from Radio Rebelde. I asked him to wait a couple of minutes, because I had something for him at my hotel room, but he was gone when I came back – unfortunately. I also tried two times to get in to the radiosation CMKX, Radio Bayamo. Despite my attempts, I had brought with me my card from DSWCI and a photocopy with radiostations in Cuba, I could not get in, although I spoke with four different persons! (Kaj Bredahl Jørgensen, April DSWCI SW News via DXLD) ** CUBA. 9250, 10150, Radio Havana Cuba, 1101-1110+, tune-in to IS and Spanish opening announcements. Spanish talk. Leapfrogging spurs from 9550 and 9850. Poor to fair 9250 leapfrogging spur of 9850. Weak 10150 leapfrogging spur of 9550. Note 300 kHz separation between each frequency. Thanks to 10150 tip from Glenn Hauser. April 12. Also heard April 13 at their 1256 sign off (Brian Alexander, PA, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX Listening Digest) 17580, April 12 until 1400* RHC cuts off modulation after first 7 notes of IS, and carrier off by 1401. Obviously intentional, yet formerly // 17730 continues with canned frequency announcement claiming both of them are on until 1500. RHC never manages to mesh announcements with reality! 15140, April 12 at 2157, big OC and hum, then I can hear the RHC IS just barely modulated. Regular mod after 2200 on this new frequency for the separate Roundtable TV simulcast, irregular mostly on weekdays. Don`t you believe the time in RHC`s own schedule: ``MESA REDONDA (Lunes a Viernes y días especiales) América del Norte 6000/15140 22:30–24 UTC`` 17580, April 13 at 1405, RHC is still on here // 17730, instead of cutting it off at 1400* as they usually do including yesterday contrary to their own schedule. Chances are high that at any random time you tune into RHC, they will be talking obsessively about Los 5, like now (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 17795: I noticed this the last couple of nights 2200- 2330 UT co-channel Radio Australia the last 1/2 hour. Spanish with long deep fades. Man and woman reading and music. Nothing in Eibi as of yet. Heard Havana mentioned twice tonight. Cuba? (Andy Reid, Ont., April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Another RHC leapfrog mixing product, 17705 over 17750 another 45 kHz higher. Surely will be // those frequencies (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Typical INTERMODULATION formula, excited small signal from Cuban tx site: 17750 x 2 = 35500 minus 17705 = 17795 symmetrical should occur also on lower side 17660 kHz 17705 x 2 = 35410 minus 17750 = 17660 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) Like I said, but so much more succinctly (gh, DXLD) 17795, 17660, Radio Havana Cuba, 2230-2257*, weak leapfrogging spurs of 17705 and 17750. Note 45 kHz separation between each frequency. Spanish talk. Spurs off the air when 17750 signs off at 2257. April 14 (Brian Alexander, PA, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX Listening Digest) 6010, 6050, 6060, 6125, Sunday April 15 at 0518, RHC in Esperanto instead of English! Usual span of signals, best to worst, 6010, 6050, 6125, 6060. 0527 wrapping up without a schedule announcement, but the M is Mario Ruíz; 0528 IS, and opening an English hour repeat of April 14, a semi-hour out of step, as if nothing had happened. Was this a playback mistake? The RHC Espo website is unchanged since B-11 http://www.radiohc.cu/eo/interesaoj/frekvencoj.html ``GEOGRAFIA REGIONO FREKVENCOJ MHZ [sic] BANDO METROJ HOROJ Norte, Centro y Suramérica 11760 Khz 25 15-15:30 UTC San Francisco 6010 Khz 49 07-07:30 UTC Suramérica 15370 Khz 19 22:30-23 UTC`` Which also fails to specify it is Sunday only! I.e. the ``San Francisco`` broadcast had been at 0700 UT Sunday, tacked on to the end of the English broadcasts but on only one of the four frequencies. And now it is heard two hours earlier on all of them. I try not to be awake at 0700 so can`t say what has really been happening then. The ``Suramérica`` broadcast on the first day of RHC`s new schedule, April 1, may have been at 2230 on 15370, unchecked, since I ran across it at an earlier unscheduled time, 2030 on 11760, and assumed that was intentional. But on April 8, Esperanto was missing at 2030 and indeed heard at 2230. Now on April 15 I need to confirm whether the third broadcast is still at 1500 on 11760? At that hour the other frequencies are closing, but the IS on 11760 is out of step with 11860 which soon goes off. It seems that the program feed line to 11760 has switched, but then from 1501:40 that is cut off leaving dead air. Will they ever start playing back Esperanto now? No, monitored the whole semihour of dead air. The transmitter stayed on with no modulation --- that`s half the battle! Without BFO on, did not notice exactly when they turned it off, but maybe around 1530. RHC are a bit more on the ball in putting up audio on demand, via http://www.radiohc.cu/eo/sono.html The April 15 broadcast is already there, so what schedule does it announce at the outset? Same old one, as above; what do they know? N/C/SAm 15 11760 SF 07 6010 SAm 2230 15370 ``nova horo`` 15340, April 15 at 1404-1408, four minutes of dead air before Spanish modulation cut back on; meanwhile the other frequencies were modulating, including 9540, 11690, 11750, 11760, 11860, 15230. 17580, April 15 at 1409, this frequency has been turned off again an hour earlier than claimed, still on 17730 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9810, April 16 at 0525, RHC Spanish is still on the air, so must have been colliding with Vatican until 0520: take that, you papists, for daring to suggest reform in Cuba! 9810 *still* on air at further chex 0626 about Los 5, 0656 during stamp program, but off at 0704 check, along with the four English frequencies on 49m. Back at 0622, `DXers Unlimited` was just ending with a sunspot number of 50, on 6010, 6050, 6060, 6125. The DentroCuban Jamming Command seems to have forgotten that it`s the UT Monday truce when R. Martí takes a break: still wall-of-noise jamming on 5980, 6030, 7405 at 0659 April 16; also still pulse jamming against daytime-only frequencies 11845, 11930 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also USA: WOR/WRMI ** CUBA [and non]. LA HISTORIA DE UN DIEXISTA CUBANO Estimados lectores: De mi reciente viaje a Estados Unidos, realizado junto a mi esposa Marisa, ya he relatado algunas experiencias vividas desde el mismo lugar de los hechos. Les había prometido narrar un especial encuentro que tuve con el amigo y colega cubano Oscar de Céspedes quien, en la mañana del 28 de marzo, arribó al Hotel Clay de Miami Beach, a dos horas de viaje desde Kendall donde actualmente reside. Con el permiso de Oscar, he querido ser portavoz de la experiencia que él debió afrontar en su país natal, donde palabras tan caras al sentimiento humano como "libertad", "democracia", "información", "dignidad"... son apenas expresiones de deseo. Oscar de Céspedes nació hace más de sesenta años en Santiago de Cuba y, según él, vivió los mismos avatares de la gente común de su país hasta que se le dio por escuchar radio de onda corta. Es indudable que la necesidad de comunicación hacia el exterior para un cubano va más allá del apasionado gusto al diexismo. Estoy convencido que -salvo rarísimas excepciones- los radioescuchas en Cuba no buscan señales difíciles, demasiado difícil ya es la supervivencia en la Isla, lo que intentan es captar un mensaje claro de esperanza y fe por un mejor porvenir. Lo cierto es que este anhelo inspirado por voces y canciones foráneas termina siendo, en la mayoría de los casos, un verdadero problema para el oyente de radio en Cuba. La historia de Oscar no escapó de las tremendas restricciones que existieron y aún existen en contra de la libre información extranjera. Entre las emisoras que él sintonizaba a diario, estaba Radio Martí cuyos transmisores de onda corta se encuentran en Greenville, Carolina del Norte y el de onda media (1180 KHz) en Marathon, ciudad que forma parte de los Cayos de la Florida. Su juventud se convirtió en una persecución constante de la que se encargaron los controladores de manzanas, unos punteros que verifican la conducta de los residentes, sus movimientos diarios y hasta las visitas que reciben. Algo así como los sicarios de Fidel ya que más de una vez aportan información al régimen y el resultado termina con la detención y hasta la muerte del denunciado. «El PC es la Persona de Confianza», me aclara Oscar. «Es el neutral de tus vecinos pero el verdadero delator». Pero también existen violaciones en la correspondencia, el Departamento MK es el encargado de abrir y verificar el contenido escrito de las cartas. Asimismo ocurre con el Departamento KT para las escuchas telefónicas. La gran mayoría de los cubanos no tienen acceso a INTERNET, los pocos que tienen acceso es a través de INTRANET, un sistema que no permite acceder a páginas WEB, sólo las que las autoridades castristas autorizan. Según Oscar, cada hogar está vigilado por la presencia visible y represiva de los Comités de Defensa de la Revolución (CDR) que tienen como base la cuadra o manzana. En la cabeza de la misma se encuentra el responsable de vigilar las actividades "contrarrevolucionarias" del conjunto de los vecinos, una suerte de contralor social que acaba con la intimidad de las familias ya que se registran las horas de ingreso y egreso de sus viviendas, los objetos que entran y salen y quiénes las visitan. Oscar de Cespedes afortunadamente hoy está vivo y en libertad pero mientras quiso elegir el derecho a la libre información sobre él cayó la sentencia de conspirar contra la Revolución y la dictadura lo castigó a 14 años de prisión... Por escuchar Radio Martí fue considerado un preso político con cumplimiento efectivo de la pena en una celda. Del testimonio de Oscar surgen secuencias difíciles de contar como el trato indecoroso en las requisas a que debían someterse sus padres cada vez que iban a visitarlo, duros recuerdos que enjugaron los ojos del amigo contagiándome de emoción. En un reciente correo él me decía «En nuestra conversación te comenté que mi mayor dolor no era estar detrás de los barrotes, sino ver a mis ancianos padres al visitarme para traerme una bolsa con galletas, azúcar y esas boberías que podían conseguir cada dos meses y saber por ellos mismos las vejaciones de desnudarlos, obligarlos a hacer cuclillas y cuantas cosas más que nunca supe, por ese pudor de los ancianos». Hoy Oscar goza de una buena jubilación y lejos quedaron los años cuando debió trabajar para el régimen como radiólogo. Las rejas le truncaron su vida familiar, su vocación profesional y seguramente las ganas de vivir. Pero al cabo de 7 años le dieron la opción de abandonar la Isla; Castro prefiere tener a los opositores políticos fuera de Cuba. La puerta hacia la libertad acababa de abrirse para Oscar de Cespedes quien, favorecido por el tratamiento especial que Estados Unidos ofrece a los refugiados, comenzó a tramitar su "extradición". Animado por sus padres, a quienes no vio nunca más, Oscar pagó con su doloroso desarraigo y sacó pasaporte hacia una nueva vida. Hoy sigue escuchando Radio Martí, la emisora que lo salvó del infierno, y hasta tiene tiempo para aclararme que son pocos los que pueden escucharla en su país ya que el gobierno de los hermanitos Castro ha "minado" de filiales de Radio Rebelde en más de treinta ciudades cubanas sobre la misma frecuencia de los 1180 KHz. Si quieren mantener contacto con el colega, aquí su dirección: dlawtonbatista @ aol.com Deseo finalizar con unas palabras del protagonista principal de esta historia: «Gracias amigo por darme esa alegría y difundir una verdad que muchos pueden considerar una ficción» (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Argentina, Abril de 2012, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** CYPRUS. 5925, Cyprus Broadcasting Corp, *2217-2244:30*, sign on with Greek announcements and Greek music. Greek talk. Abrupt sign off. Fair. Stronger on // 7220, 9760. Surprised to actually hear programming for a change and not just an open carrier. April 13. Fri, Sat, Sun only (Brian Alexander, PA, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX Listening Digest) CBC-CYBC weekend shortwave transmission "Radiofoniko Idrima Kyprou" Fri/Sat/Sun only at 2210-2245 UT on 5925 7220 9760 kHz via Zyyi site missing again April 14. Nothing heard around 2225 to 2235 UT April 14; all three channels were EMPTY ! (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews April 14, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DXLD) ** CYPRUS. 20290-20315, April 12 at 1412, OTH radar pulses, presumed from here. I usually skip tuning the 20 MHz band as there is little chance of any broadcasters, even harmonix, but tried it this time. A perfect place for such noises, far from hams and broadcasters (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. 4781.5, Radio Oriental, Napo, 1102 sign on with Oriental ID by om on 9 April; 1101 per XM-Cedar Key tip on 6 April om with music, some modulation issues; fade out 1117 (XM - Cedar Key - South Florida, NRD 525D - R8A, via Bob Wilkner, and Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** EGYPT. Probably Radio Cairo extended Pashto program on additional hour 1300-1400 UT ? Or is Wooden? booking schedule to AFG/IRN Pashto 15065 1300-1600 UT 15240 1400-1600 UT 17640 1400-1600 UT Dari 17725 1300-1400 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews April 13, dxldyg via DXLD) New registered frequencies of Radio Cairo, maybe upcoming changes: 1300-1400 on 17725 ABZ 250 kW / 070 deg to WeAs Dari, now on 15065 1400-1600 on 15240 ABZ 250 kW / 070 deg to WeAs Pashto, now on 15065 1400-1600 on 17640 ABZ 250 kW / 070 deg to WeAs Pashto, now on 15065 1600-1700 on 13680 ABS 250 kW / 315 deg to EaEu Bosnian, new language (DX Re Mix News 16 April via DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 5005, 01/04 1814-1820, Radio Nacional Bata, Sport live in Spanish. Poor/fair (Giampiero Bernardini, with Dario Monferini at Bocca di Magra, Boc 27, Italy, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5005, R Dif. de Guinea Equatorial, Bata, 2001 11 Apr, px mx, local ID, 32233 (Mauro Giroletti, -Swl 1510-, -IK2GFT-, -JRC525Nrd - Lowe HF150- , playdx yg via DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA [and non]. 15190, R. Africa, Bata, 2043-2055 April 10, English; M preacher with Psalms; "Walking In (Prayer?)" & Miami, FL contact info & plea for $$; open carrier at 2052; choral music & new program at 2054; poor-fair (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15190, April 12 at 1505 a song, praise music or rock? poor signal, 1508 YL in English, presumably R. Africa on this early. At first I wondered if IRRS via ROMANIA had an extra post-1500 broadcast this Thursday, as they are still scheduled to have on Fridays and Sundays; only BS was definitely there before 1500 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15190, Radio Africa (presumed); 1512-1528+, 12-Apr; English New Testament huxteress (not a screamer; sounds a bit like Rev. Barbi!). 1526 went right into different program without pause – with same huxteress? SIO=252; about 30 milliHz above 15190 (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Inconfidencia peleando por la frecuencia con Radio África, ayer, en 15190 kHz. http://youtu.be/eE8QoTRf4Gs Published on Apr 12, 2012 by CX2ABP Radio Africa, Bata, Equatorial Guinea, fighting with Radio Aparecida, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, on 15190 kHz. Reception by CX2ABP in Montevideo, Uruguay (GF15wc). April 12, 2012 at 1808 UT. 73 de CX2ABP (Rodolfo Tizzi, Uruguay, April 13, condiglist yg via DXLD) 15190, April 12 at 2120, R. Africa is still on later than yet heard since its reactivation, now with African-accented g.h. in English, re Sodom & Gomorra [spellings approved by MS word but yahoomail and/or Mozilla disapprove of the latter; Google says Gomorrah]; and still at 2137, but gone at next check 2144, leaving JBA carrier, presumably ZY. Shux, missed the sign-off --- except there probably wasn`t any, let alone an ID. Has anyone *ever* heard one since R. Africa was resurrected? Note that WYFR is finally moving from 15190 to 15745 from April 16 for the 2200-0045 Portuguese broadcast; its carrier could be on by 2145; see U S A. 15190, April 13 at 1502, a very poor signal, maybe two of them, as on Fridays, IRRS via ROMANIA is supposed to run until 1515 with an Arabic PS to BS, and like yesterday, R. Africa could also be on (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15190, Radio Africa (presumed), 0640-0730, 14-04, male with religious comments in English. Slight interference by moments from Radio Inconfidencia. 23322 15190, Radio Africa (presumed), 0805-0830, 15-04, male with religious sermon. English. 24422 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Friol, Sony ICF SW 7600 G, cable antenna, 10 meters, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15190, April 15 at 1947, YL allegedly proclaiming ``word of God``, poor signal and poor enunciation, so R. Africa. 15190, April 16 at 0708, I am unavoidably awake, so find R. Africa also on and propagating at this hour, US gospel huxter with fair signal. Says something about some stations being glad he`s gone, and then has issues with Wycliffe Bible Translators. 15190, April 18 at 0556, R. Africa is on rather early and propagating with YL gospel huxter, long IADs, more obvious when music plays; 0559 retune, now YL giving PO Box in NJ 07528, ``stay tuned for today`s message``, then OM g.h., somewhat overmodulated yet muffled. Apparently just changed programs when I was not monitoring, and missed another possible local ID, but probably none given (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA. 7175, 15/4 0313 Voice of Broad Masses 2, African songs, good. 7205, 15/4 0318, Voice of Broad Masses 1, Horn of Africa style songs, fair (In fact 7175 & 7205 are not in //) (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano Italy, Drake R-4C - Excalibur Pro - Elad FDM-S1, ant: T2FD 15 meters long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9720.03, Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea, *0256-0315, sign on with IS. Vernacular talk at 0300. Horn of Africa music. Weak. // 7175 - poor with HAM QRM. April 13 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** ETHIOPIA. 7210, 15/4 0322, Radio Fana, Horn of Africa style songs, talks, fair (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano Italy, Drake R-4C - Excalibur Pro - Elad FDM-S1, ant: T2FD 15 meters long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 9705, Radio Ethiopia, 2040-2101*, local Horn of Africa style folk music. Amharic talk. Sign off with National Anthem. Fair. April 12 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX Listening Digest) ** ETHIOPIA. 9705, 17 UT, Radio Ethiopia. Programming in English and then ID with PO box, etc. Giving ID as Radio Ethiopia external service. I though this frequency carried their national service? Perhaps just a canned ID giving address? The English was on from when I tuned in at about 1640. http://www.box.com/s/a3235a27a7e173c1f72c (Mark Davies, Anglesey, Wales, April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) In winter (B11) I used to tune their English service at 1630 UT onwards on 7200 kHz (Co-Channel Sudan) (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, Dist. Darjeeling, West Bengal, INDIA, April 13, ibid.) [and non]. /CHINA, 9705v. Three UNID signals heard as opening procedure around 0358-0400 UT April 17. Weak signal on 9704.999, stronger 9705.004-ETH and 1000 Hertz tone on 9706.036 kHz. I guess ETH Gedja with typical HOA program on 9705.004 and PBS Xinjiang IS in Kyrgyz national service from Urumqi site on 9705.031 kHz (Wolfgang Büschel, April 14 [sic] wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Apr 18 via DXLD) ** EUROPE. WOR radio transmission --- Hi Glenn, Radio Spaceshuttle from Scandinavia will be on air next Saturday 21st April 2012. We shall transmit on 15845 kHz usb and if allowed we like to relay also latest World of Radio program of yours. WOR scheduled at 0915, 1215, 1515 and 1715 UT. Transmission will start 09 UT and ends 18 UT. Glenn, I wish there could be some High Frequency Pirate News on your program, please. Greetings, (Dick Spacewalker, April 17, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hope Galei Zahal, Israel, back on 15850 is too weak to bother; but LSB might be better for 15845 (gh, DXLD) ** EUROPE. QSL da WR International --- Ricevuta nel giro di un mese la QSL card di *WR International* ascoltata sui */15770 kHz/*, alla quale avevo inviato il rapporto via email con allegato unfile audio di 15 minuti. Insieme alla conferma ho ricevuto una lunga lettera personale, un calendario in formato A4 con il logo della radio ed una penna a sfera. L'emittente pirata trasmette tutte le domeniche dalle 08:00 alle 11:00 utc sui/*12257 kHz*/e risponde dalle seguenti coordinate: radio @ wrinternational.co.uk -- (Roberto Rizzardi, SWL I/0216/GR, Porto S. Stefano (GR) Italy, April 13, playdx yg via DXLD) ** FRANCE. 17620, April 13 at 1257, RFI poor signal in French promoting all the platforms it`s on, still including OC after all the others, just before scheduled closing of its drastically curtailed use of this frequency, per HFCC now only at 08-09 and 12-13, both 185 degrees to Africa (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Labor unions say RFI management has presented an RFI schedule that eliminates the current distinction between programming for Africa and the rest of the world. Instead of two schedules, there is to be one (Mike Cooper, GA, Apr 17, DXLD) And what`s the point? (gh, DXLD) ** GERMANY. Demolition of the 594 kHz, Hessischer Rundfunk 1 towers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He-XBjXb008 (Jurgen Bartels, Suellwarden, N. Germany, skywavesmw yg via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** GERMANY. German private sw broadcaster Radio 6150 has its website online: http://www.radio6150.de/ *Now on air:* Low power test with OPTIMOD system You listen to: Conny Ferrins Jammin' Oldies Reception reports urgently needed - please rate the quality of the modulation! *Soon to come:* Your QSL card (about 50% already sent) Regards (via Harald Kuhl, Germany, April 13, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) While writing this at 0810 UT (Saturday 14 april), Radio 6150 is again testing on 6150 kHz (music show and DJ in German). Still active at 1010, 17 W power (Kuhl, ibid.) Radio 6150 announced another test transmission for coming Saturday, 21 April, starting at 0615 UT on 6150 kHz. http://www.radio6150.de Regards (Harald Kuhl, Germany, April 18, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. 17820, April 17 at 0604, DW news in English, 0605 `Africa-Link` starting with conflict along the N/S Sudan border. Good standout signal, the SSOB in the nightmiddle, and close to the OSOB, 295 degrees from RWANDA (where else?) at 06-07 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And also the next night. 6160, DW relay: see CANADA ** GOA. INDIA, 15209.955, AIR Arabic service, interview in progress, in AM mode from Goa Panaji site. S=8 fluttery signal in Australia. 0510 UT April 14 (Wolfgang Büschel, April 14, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Apr 18 via DXLD) ** GREECE [and non]. 15650, April 12 at 1502, VOG in Greek with CCI from SAH, i.e. R. Liberty in Turkmen via Wertachtal at 14-17. Why in the world doesn`t ERT use alternately registered 15630 instead? Nothing else is scheduled on it at any time between 14 and 02, VOG`s current span, except (in Aoki only), BVB`s V. of the Wilderness via Tajikistan to N. Korea, extending until 1430 on Sundays only. 15630 is open as I monitor --- of course, there`s always that squishy spur around 15627 from WEWN 15610 at 15-24, not strong enough to bother at the moment. Some ACI is better than direct CCI, but VOG only needs to avoid 15650 before 1700 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUAM. AWR English 1600-1630 UTC on 11825 kHz via SDA (ex 11750) (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Frequency change of AWR KSDA Agat in English to SoAs from April 8: 1600-1630 NF 11825 SDA 100 kW / 285 deg, ex 11750 to avoid SLBC in Tagalog (DX Re Mix News 16 April via DXLD) 15170, April 16 at 1330, TWR IS, S Asian language and music. Scheduled Assamese from KTWR on M-F per Aoki (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. 4055, Radio Verdad, 0424 English Preacher - 0955 English Preacher also, Seems to have gone generally to English per recent logs, 13 April (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** GUIANA FRENCH [and non]. 17870-17875-17880, Friday April 13 at 2000, no DRM noise as I patiently await it. TDP Radio cuts on late at *2001 as soon as REE Costa Rica turns 17850 AM off late at 2001* (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Frequency change of TDP station The Disco Palace in DRM: 2000-2100 NF 17875 GUF 100 kW / 311 deg to NoAm, ex 17755 to avoid RHC 17750 (DX Re Mix News 16 April via DXLD) [as we have already reported --- gh] ** GUYANA. 3290, Voice of Guyana, 0900 subcontinental music, "The Voice of Guyana" ID and into Dave Brubeck "Take Five"- this often played on VOG, 6 April (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** HONDURAS. 630, Radio América (WRTVH 2012 still lists long-time Chuloteca or La Ceiba). 0103 April 11, 2012. Long ad block followed by Radio América program promos at 0105, then nice canned ID by man. Radio Progreso, Cuba mostly dominant by 0130. There used to be 4-6 América stations in parallel audible here at any given time in the local evenings in the 70's through maybe at best early 90's. Not so since (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater FL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. 3250, Radio Luz y Vida, San Luis, 0140 to 0145 noted with weaker signal in recent days, 13 April (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** INDIA. New CEO takes charge at Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) --- Former culture secretary Jawhar Sircar has been selected as the CEO of India’s public broadcaster Prasar Bharati. More at : http://www.abu.org.my/Latest_News-@-New_CEO_takes_charge_at_Prasar_Bharati.aspx (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, April 13, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** INDIA. For many weeks now 4970 has been unusable! Yes, the AIR Shillong transmitter that for a long a time now has had a bad hum is so bad now that no programming audio can be heard at all! Will try to put together a recording of it to send via email to them. Do they not know how bad it has become? It really is pointless for them to bother to transmit on 4970 with such bad modulation. Very sad, as it was one of my favorite stations! (Ron Howard, Monterey CA, SW Bulletin April 15 via DXLD) ** INDIA. QSL: AIR Thiruvanathapuram, 5010, full data Footprint of Buddha card via New Delhi in 661 days for English email report, then follow-up via registered airmail in September 2011 with 3 IRCs. Card received in 170 days after follow-up. Like pulling teeth! (Al Muick, Williamsport, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Or toenails? ** INDIA. 11645, 15/4 2348, AIR, India, DRM label: "GOS I - ALL INDIA RADIO KHAMPUR", in English, many audio stops (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano Italy, Drake R-4C - Excalibur Pro - Elad FDM-S1, ant: T2FD 15 meters long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA [non]. 15390, April 12 at 1419, South Asian song and talk, poor-fair. This 1330-1530 broadcast of Gospel for Asia, via Wertachtal, GERMANY is a rich source for collectors of obscure languages, like Zacharias Liangas who is putting up audio samples. EiBi by frequency does not show any details, but Aoki has them all, including Wed/Thu/Fri at 1415-1430 in Mising. EiBi does have a comprehensive language list at http://www.eibispace.de/dx/README.TXT showing: ``MIS Mising (dialect of ADI): India-Assam (25,000)`` as GFA tries its best to erode those 25K speakers away from their original religion(s) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 9526-, April 13 at 1317, VOI English in the clear, undermodulation almost readable with `Update` on what would be a sufficient signal. It`s enough to tell they are *still* suffering from IADs = intermittent audio dropouts (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Voice of Indonesia, Jakarta on 9525.963, at 1302 UT 14 April. With English news, fair signal and audio. 73, (Maurits Van Driessche, Belgium, HCDX via DXLD) At 1915 UT April 14 moved to 9525.976 kHz. But heavily interfered by CRI Russian on even 9525 kHz. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9526-, April 17 at 1318, zero signal from VOI and RRI Banjarmasin on this Tuesday. However, Ishida confirms it had been on today at 1202 in Japanese (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) VOI on 9525.99 from 1337 to 1350 on April 17 (Tuesday) with their normal Tue. "Exotic Indonesia" program; decent signal strength, but very prominent audio hum; chatting between Jakarta and Banjarmasin; segment just from Banjarmasin. Had so many IADs, was just about unusable! (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. MUSIC DX-ING ===================== Hello, who are interested in music DXing! [Russian letters DX] In the first approximation updated the page DX-portal "Music-on-SW in time" http://dxing.ru/informatsija/54-muzyka-v-am-efire/1275-muzyka-na-kv-po-vremeni.html and "Music of the MW/LW at time" http://dxing.ru/informatsija/54-muzyka-v-am-efire/1310-muzyka-na-svdv-po-vremeni.html. On the pages of the countries still have old information, see the legend above: (?11) or (A12), although many of the station remained in the winter time and frequencies (Alexander Egorov, Kyiv, Ukraine / "deneb-radio-dx" & "open_dx' via RusDX April 15 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET [non]. OK, a confession: I like noisy, barely audible signals from far away places. In a language I can`t understand? Even better. It all adds to the mystique of RF bouncing around the ether from far away places Ill probably never visit thousands of miles away. No servers or routers or cables or relays or ISPs between, just signals bouncing around the ether from afar and landing in my backyard. Hi def audio with perfect reception? Thpppt... You can have it. Well, OK it has its place. But I just don`t see the fun in it (Louis Sica, Jr, AC0X, April 14, NASWA yg via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [and non]. Titanic stuff: see MUSEA abottom ** IRAN [and non]. 17660, April 13 at 0526, poor signal with music, 0530 announcement, no doubt the ``Bosnian`` hour of IRIB, 500 kW, 297 degrees from Kamalabad. Is there really a Bosnian dialect distinct from Serbian or Croatian? Or by ``Bosnian`` is IRIB just implying the Moslems speaking something Slavic? Almost the OSOB, but also weaker 17855 RFA Saipan and: 17550, April 13 at 0530 Qur`an, another IRIB, starting its 11-hour Arabic broadcast, also 500 kW, 259 degrees from Kamalabad. It`s slightly weaker than 17660, as you would expect from the azimuths. 15530, April 17 at 0530 after some nondescript music, La Voz de la Républica Islámica de Irán opening in Spanish, anthem; good signal, but modulation somewhat distorted, 289 degrees from Kamalabad. 15320, April 17 at 0531, same anthem as on 15530, not synch, then into another language, and quickly Qur`an. Scheduled as ``Bossni``, 310 degrees from Sirjan. 19m nicely open from ME with several other signals; see SAUDI ARABIA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. PARAZIT: VOA SATIRE FOR IRAN GETS TV AWARD Washington, D.C. — April 18, 2012 — The hit VOA Persian language television program that has delighted Iranians around the world with its irreverent humor, won a Bronze Medal Tuesday night at the New York Festival’s Best Television and Films award show in Las Vegas. Parazit, which has often been compared to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, was honored in the comedy/satire category. Jon Stewart meets Saman and Kambiz [caption] --- “This show has captured the hearts of our Iranian audience with its honesty, integrity, and humor,” says VOA Director David Ensor. “The fact that Iran’s government goes to enormous expense and trouble to try to jam the program is a testament to its effectiveness. Seeing it honored in a category that included one of the leading comedy shows on US television is just amazing.” The New York Festivals® International Television & Film Awards represents “The World’s Best Television and Films” and honors programming in all lengths and forms from over 40 countries. Kambiz Hosseini and Saman ArbabiParazit, which was co-created by host Kambiz Hosseini and executive producer Saman Arbabi, has built a loyal following with its satirical take on Iranian government policies. The show has been profiled by the Washington Post, CNN, Fox News, PBS and a host of international media outlets. During a 2011 guest appearance on The Daily Show, Jon Stewart told the Parazit co-creators, “You’re like our show, but with real guts.” The title of the show, Parazit, means static in Persian, a barb aimed at Iranian government efforts to jam satellite broadcasts of the VOA program, which has countered the censorship with a robust social media presence. More than 850,000 Facebook users “like” the Parazit page which serves as a download portal for its media savvy audience. The show, which is currently on season break, is also available on YouTube and the VOA Persian website. For more information about this release contact Kyle B. King at the VOA Public Relations office in Washington at kking @ voanews.com Visit our main English language website at http://www.voanews.com for more information about all of our programs (VOA PR via DXLD) ** IRELAND [non]. Some BABCOCK changes from April 1: RTE Radio One in English: 1930-2000 on 5820 MEY 100 kW / non-dir to SoAf, ex 1930-2030 (DX Re Mix News 16 April via WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DXLD) ** ISRAEL [and non]. 15785, Galei Zahal; 2054-2101+, 11-Apr; M in Hebrew with pop music to peppy ID spot at 2057 (They seem to ID a lot more than they used to -- thanks!); ToH W in Hebrew with news. SIO=2+52, very fady. Nothing detectable on 6973 (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15785, April 17 at 0526, CRI English is poor with flutter, but seems to have something underneath, i.e. Galei Tzahal. OTH radar pulses, typically from Cyprus, were immediately adjacent, 15788-15803, also bothering something on 15790, i.e. BBC Arabic also via CYPRUS, which was clear around 0600 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) FREQUENCY CHANGE again. 15850.007 AM amplitude mode. Israel Army broadcaster GALEI ZAHAL replaced QRM suffered channel 15785 kHz and replaced instead by former 15850.007 kHz channel, observed here again on April 18 at 1115 UT, weak S=4 signal just above threshold (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Germany April 18, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. Kol Israel - 1400-1530 UT Transmitter: Yavne, 300kW, 90 to Iran QTH: Troyan, Bulgaria Sony ICF-7600D with 30 metres longwire aerial 13850 kHz - 55555 15760 kHz - 55555 No Iranian jamming noted on the two frequencies. The transmissions on the frequency from the winter season, 9985 kHz were always under heavy jamming. 73! (Georgi Bancov, Bulgaria, April 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY [non]. /ROMANIA, Changes of NEXUS IBA IRRS Shortwave: Music, instead of Arab Woman Today in Arabic: 0800-0815 on 11910 TIG 300 kW / 140 deg to N&ME/WeAS Wed 1500-1515 on 15190 TIG 300 kW / 140 deg to N/ME/WeAS Fri Free Speech Radio News (FSRN), instead of Radio Joystick: 0800-0900 on 9510 TIG 100 kW / 290 deg to WeEU/NoEU 1st Sat Free Speech Radio News (FSRN), instead of Radio City: 0800-0900 on 9510 TIG 100 kW / 290 deg to WeEU/NoEU German 3rd Sat [could be default filler, not necessarily permanent change -- gh] Radio Sentec Universal Life (UNL) in English, cancelled: 1500-1530 on 15190 TIG 300 kW / 100 deg to AS/AUS/NZ Sun (DX Re Mix News 16 April via DXLD) ** ITALY. [Re 12-15]: Re: Radio Kolbe sui 1566 kHz Ciao a tutti, anche questa mattina, mentre viaggiavo in auto nei pressi di Grosseto, monitoravo i /*1566 kHz*/ ed alle 05:39 locali ho ascoltato distintamente una voce femminile che annunciava "/State ascoltando Radio Kolbe/". Il segnale era debole ed interferito da *TWR Benin* e *BBC* che ne rendevano difficile l'ascolto per dare altri dettagli, se non canzoni religiose e del parlato, sempre a carattere religioso. Credo quindi che anche l'ascolto effettuato lo scorso 6 aprile sulla stessa frequenza e nella stessa fascia oraria attribuito in un primo momento a *Challenger Radio* (dalla quale non ho avuto ad oggi conferma) possa invece essere attribuito a *Radio Kolbe*. Data la bassa potenza del loro tx, non ero mai riuscito ad ascoltare questa stazione prima. Di certo molto è da attribuire alla propagazione, poiché non credo abbiano aumentato la potenza in antenna, visti i tempi duri per le emittenti in onde medie italiane. Roby (Roberto Rizzardi, Italy, April 12, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) ** JAPAN. Tokyo Sky Tree --- Greetings from Japan! I posted Tokyo Sky Tree's related in my weblog. http://listening-overseas.air-nifty.com/radio/2012/04/tokyo-sky-tree.html (Koji Hoshi, April 15, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) ** JOHNSTON ISLAND. KH3, JOHNSTON ATOLL (Op Cancelled!). It was reported this past week that Susan, W7KFI, has officially given up on KH3. This will be a big disappointment to many who have been waiting for her to be on the air (Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 1058, April 16, 2012, Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW, Provided by BARF80.ORG (Cleveland, Ohio), via Dave Raycroft, ODXA yg via DXLD) ** JORDAN. Has anybody heard Jordan recently? 73, (Erik Køie, Copenhagen, April 18, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Last entry on my log: JORDAN 11960 R Jordan Amman in Arabic via Al Karanah 500 kW site observed on powerful level S=9+10dB, with news on Israel / Palestine nation at 0514-0515 UT Jan 4. Female reader at 0516 UT about Azad regime in Syria (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 4, 2012) Never heard since. 73 wolfy (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) The only two SW broadcasts normally shift one UT hour earlier due to DST, so 11960 should be at 04-05 now; I have not heard it either. And 1055-1130 on 15290 (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Thanks for the replies! Tried this morning around 06, but only heard 11775 kHz with a fair signal. [China via Albania?] 1100-1130 on 15290 seems to be missing. 73, (Erik Køie, Copenhagen, 0849 UT April 19, ibid.) ** KASHMIR [and non]. RS. 1,000CR FOR PROPAGANDA WAR AGAINST TERROR The government has sought the highest ever allocation for its 'content revolution' propaganda war against terrorists and extremists. The information and broadcasting ministry has proposed to spend an amount of Rs. 1,000 crore for programming and content development in disturbed areas like Jammu and Kashmir and the northeastern states over the next five years. During the forthcoming 12th Five Year plan, under the special package, the I&B ministry has also proposed to enhance funding for programming of DD Urdu, which serves the minority community in the country. Sources stated that the government wants to spend Rs. 200 crore per year on Doordarshan’s content development in these regions. Over and above the Rs. 1,000 crore in these five years for Doordarshan, the government also proposes to spend an additional amount of Rs. 80 crore on similar content development in disturbed areas over the next five years. “This will bring the proposed total outlay to a whopping Rs. 1,080 crore for “content revolution” in Prasar Bharati,” sources added. As part of the package, the government also proposes to focus on development of DD Kashir (its dedicated channel for Kashmir) and DD International. The strengthening of DD International has been proposed to enhance the country’s capability in projecting itself in foreign land. The government has also proposed a massive 10-fold increase in the amount of budget spent on strengthening of Doordarshan and All India Radio broadcasting and coverage in border areas, as reported by this newspaper first. The ministry has proposed to spend Rs. 986 crore on strengthening of national broadcasters in border areas during the forthcoming 12th plan period. It is believed that the strengthening of national broadcasters will help the government to stop the misinformation campaign being unleashed by terrorist and extremist outfits. The enhancement of infrastructure and broadcasting capability will also ensure fulfilment of responsibility of public broadcaster in dissemination of authentic information to citizens in these disturbed areas. http://www.asianage.com/india/rs-1000cr-propaganda-war-against-terror-042 (via Jose Jacob, April 14, dx_india yg via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [and non]. 9335, April 13 at 1310, VOK English automaton with super-superlatives about the regime, nothing detectable about the satellite launch failure, totally risible. Atop CCI from IBB TINIAN at 1230-1430 per HFCC where the details are now censored, as EiBi points out; for those, consult his schedule: R. Free Asia, Burmese (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) V of Korea from Pyongyang still on winter schedule TODAY (Wolfgang Büschel, April 15, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) It`s *always* winter in the people`s paradise (gh, DXLD) 11710, April 17 at 1350, VOK in rather amusing tuba piece with orchestra, as we envision a Great, Dear or Default Leader waddling around, looking at things, 1351 applause and outro as a recording from the 28th April Spring Festival or something like that, immediately back to equally laughable propaganda; also on // 9335 weaker with usual CCI from RFA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. IF THERE IS A NORTH KOREAN SATELLITE, AND IF IT REACHES ORBIT, IT WILL BROADCAST "SONG OF KIM IL SUNG" ON 470 MHZ. Posted: 12 Apr 2012 NBC News, 12 Apr 2012, James Oberg: "During all this time, officials say, the satellite will be transmitting patriotic hymns on a 470MHz beacon. Foreign radio listeners will try to pick it up, and if the satellite reaches orbit, it’s almost certain that some — perhaps very, very many — will do so before the first official North Korean reception. If nobody hears the satellite’s beacon in those hours, something clearly will have gone wrong." Xinhua, 8 Apr 2012: "Jang Myung Jin, who is in charge of the [launching] station, told reporters that ... [a]fter entering its Sun- synchronous orbit, the satellite will broadcast 'the Song of General Kim Il Sung' and 'the Song of General Kim Jong Il.'" NBC News, 10 Apr 2012, Ed Flanagan interviewing space consultant James Oberg: "Q: What questions did you have coming into this press conference with the North Korea Space Technology Committee? A: Perhaps the most interesting one for me was how soon after launch they’ll have success or failure in the form of a radio signal from the satellite. The North Koreans said they couldn’t answer that one. That puzzled me because the primary responsibility of flight control is knowing when to expect indicators of success or failure like receiving a radio signal. Maybe they were just officials and not workers who care about the details. ... In regards to the timing of the radio signal and how other radio amateurs around the planet could help detect these signals, they said they would answer tomorrow ." AP, 12 Apr 2012, Eric Talmadge: "Pyongyang says the satellite will broadcast martial music praising North Korea's founder, Kim Il Sung. It says Bright Shining Stars 1 and 2, launched in 1998 and 2009, did the same. But no broadcasts were ever detected, and neither probe is believed to have reached orbit. If the broadcasts on the UHF and X- bands are successful, the first independent confirmation could come from western Australia, which might pick them up within 20 minutes. The west coast of South America would be next, followed by the U.S. east coast. North Korea would not likely hear them until as much as 12 hours later." North Korea Tech, 13 Apr 2012, Martyn Williams: "Based on information submitted to international organizations prior to launch, the folks at Analytical Graphics have produced a good-looking computer simulation of what the Unha-3 launch might look like." With video. weather.com (The Weather Channel), 10 Apr 2012: "North Korea's claim justifying a planned rocket launch that the isolated country merely wants to put a weather satellite in orbit was denounced on Tuesday by the White House, which dismissed the claim by saying North Korea should just 'go to weather.com.'" Politico, 9 Apr 2012, Dylan Byers: "The White House is pushing back against the media for what it sees as oversaturated coverage of this week’s forthcoming North Korean missile test. 'You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know this is a propaganda exercise,' National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor told me. 'Reporters have to be careful not to get co-opted.'" (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) PROGRESS, DPRK-STYLE: ADMISSION OF ROCKET LAUNCH FAILURE RATHER THAN "NEWS" OF FANTASY SATELLITE IN ORBIT. Posted: 13 Apr 2012 Voice of America, 13 Apr 2012, Steve Herman: "North Korea has acknowledged a multi-stage rocket it launched early Friday failed to reach orbit. An announcer on North Korean television - interrupting programming four hours after the launch, which was not broadcast - says the Kwangmyongsong-3 earth observation satellite did not succeed in reaching orbit and scientific experts are investigating the cause of the failure." Steve Herman @W7VOA, 13 Apr 2012: "Not a word aired on the N. Korean 5pm TV newscast about the failed launch." Steve Herman @W7VOA, 13 Apr 2012: "There was a brief break-in during the noon hour to read the KCNA statement on the failed launch. That's been it." North Korea Tech, 13 Apr 2012, Martyn Williams: "North Korean TV ran a special news broadcast informing the country that the launch of the Kwangmyongsong 3 had failed to reach. The broadcast came several hours after the launch. which passed by when national TV was still yet to begin programming. When it did begin daily broadcasts, the TV station opened as usual and went into regular programming. The special bulletin came several hours later, long after the rest of the world has discovered what happened to the rocket. ... The news reader read out the KCNA bulletin, an English version of which is [here]: 'Pyongyang, April 13 (KCNA) — The DPRK launched its first application satellite Kwangmyongsong-3 at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station in Cholsan County, North Phyongan Province at 07:38:55 a.m. on Friday. The earth observation satellite failed to enter its preset orbit. Scientists, technicians and experts are now looking into the cause of the failure.'" With video. @chicoharlan, 13 Apr 2012: "I would say N. Korea's admission of failure is by far the most surprising part of this whole adventure." Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr 2012, David Pierson: "BBC reporter Damian Grammaticas, who'd been up all night working, was awakened by his Beijing bureau chief, Jo Floto, to learn of the news. 'The rest of the world knew but nobody in North Korea knew that the rocket had launched,' Floto said. Grammaticas later tweeted: 'Now in bizarre situation our #NKorea minders asking ME to tell THEM if rocket has launched. Went up 4 hours ago but they have no information.' ... Though they ultimately had no scoop, the massive media attention may have pressured the country’s new leader, Kim Jong Un, to issue the stunning admission of failure later that day. 'The way North Korea quickly admitted the failure of the launch may have reflected the reigning style of Kim Jong Un,' said Koh Yoo-hwan, a professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University in South Korea. 'Unlike Kim Jong Il, who in the past hid his failures, Kim Jong Un called the foreign press and showed them what happened.'" [-- I don't think Kim Jong Un personally called the foreign press. -Kim] AP, 12 Apr 2012, Eric Talmadge: "Pyongyang [said] the satellite [would have] broadcast martial music praising North Korea's founder, Kim Il Sung. It says Bright Shining Stars 1 and 2, launched in 1998 and 2009, did the same. But no broadcasts were ever detected, and neither probe is believed to have reached orbit." AUDIO OF DPRK'S VOICE OF KOREA, WITH ENGLISH-LANGUAGE REPORT ABOUT SATELLITE LAUNCH FAILURE. Posted: 13 Apr 2012 North Korea Tech, 13 Apr 2012, Martyn Williams: "Voice of Korea, the DPRK’s international radio service, broadcast news of the failure to place the Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite into orbit. Below is a recording of the radio station’s English-language broadcast for Friday. Voice of Korea typically updates its programming once a day, so is almost always beaten to the news by domestic media outlets. I’m posting it here because it’s the only radio or TV news available in English. As expected, there’s no update on the reason for the failure. North Korea-watchers with a keen eye have already noted how unusual it is for the country to admit failure, as Chico Harlan writes in The Washington Post. There are a number of theories, mostly revolving around the presence of international media in Pyongyang, although those journalists were kept in the dark about the launch and learned about it from colleagues overseas. One interesting idea proposed it that it’s because of the increasing amount of information coming into the country from overseas. It’s theorized that citizens would find out anyway so why keep them in the dark? Whatever the reasons, the admission of failure represents a bold step for the government." With audio. http://www.northkoreatech.org/2012/04/14/voice-of-korea-on-launch-failure/ Washington Post, 13 Apr 2012, Chico Harlan: "[T]his time, unlike after previous failures, North Korea didn’t manufacture a tale about a technological triumph and a satellite spinning around the globe. Roughly four hours after the Unha-3 rocket fell apart, Pyongyang’s state-run news agency released a brief statement saying that the 'earth observation satellite failed to enter its preset orbit.' A news anchorwoman then read the statement on domestic television. ... When the North attempted to place a satellite into orbit in 2009 — its most recent effort until Friday — the multistage carrier rocket failed when the third stage didn’t fire. Outside accounts, relying on tracking data, said the Unha-2 plummeted into the Pacific Ocean. But North Korea provided a different account. Kim Jong Il expressed his 'great satisfaction' that the Kwangmyongsong-2 satellite had been placed into orbit. A front-page account in the next morning’s state- run newspaper described the device’s nine-minute, two-second path into orbit and said the satellite was now transmitting revolutionary songs at a frequency of 470 MHz." (kimandrewelliott.com via DDXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 6020, April 13 at 1330, Shiokaze piano music barely audible under R. Australia, and presumed in English on Friday; I soon switched to 9580 to hear RA better (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. Frequency change of Voice of Martyrs in Korean from Apr. 7: 1600-1730 NF 7515 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg, ex 7485 to avoid RL in Turkmen. In the coming days should change the time of transmission: 1500-1630 on 7515 (DX Re Mix News 16 April via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. Additional broadcast of Radio Free North Korea in Korean: 1900-2100 on 7530 ERV 100 kW / 065 deg. First noted on April 1 (DX Re Mix News 16 April via DXLD) It`s Free North Korea Radio per WRTH (gh, DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. 9650, (via Sackville), KBS World, 4/8, 1345. Angie Park, Korea K-Pop countdown, good, burying co-channel DPRK. Also was allowed to close out program before the xmtr cut off, unlike some days. Voice of Korea dominated the first half hour, tho, so today`s competition wind in a draw. Often, North Korea rules the channel for the first halr hour, yielding to KBS at BOH (Rick Barton, El Mirage AZ, HF equipment used at shack: Drake R-8 + S-77A, HQ-120X , HQ-200 , SP-600, indoor loop, outdoor Slinky, ABDX April 17 via DXLD) 9650, Sat April 14 at 1248-1251, KBS World Radio via CANADA, Kevin O`Donovan`s weekly listening tips, starting with the RCI situation and how that might affect KBS. On April 12, he sent this to me directly: ``Glenn, I received an email from a producer at KBS World Radio. They are aware of the RCI situation. Even though RCI will end shortwave broadcasts in late June, Sackville won’t cease broadcasting until late summer. The producer mentioned October, but I don’t know how accurate that is; I’ve heard an earlier date. No word on any alternate relays or future of KBSWR on shortwave to North America. Here’s the text of the email: `We may have to stop the relayed transmission. I'll keep you posted. But it won't happen until October since CBC will shut down its transmitters in Sackville that time. Let me know if you get to know anything about that.` Regards, Kevin O’Donovan, Farmington, New Mexico`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN. CLANDESTINES and other Target Broadcasts: 3930v, R Voice of Kurdistan, Sulaimaniya, Iraq, *0140 (irr. *0157)- 0355* or later, and *1357-1527*, monitored A 12 schedule on Mar 26, 28, 31, Apr 01 and 07, frequency varies very little: 3929-3931. The Kurdistan Anthem is played at 0200 and it is also used by the Voice of Iranian Kurdistan at 0230 on 3960v and 4870v. Years ago it was used by the socialdemocratic party, but not from KOMALA. (Pankov) 3960v, Voice of Iranian Kurdistan, Salah Al-Din, Iraq, *0225-0433* and *1225 (presumed)-1427*, Mar 26, 28, 31, Apr 01 and 07, IS and Anthem 0230, frequency jumps 3959-3981 // 4870 (jumping 4864-4883). (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, DSWCI DX Window April 18 via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN. 4874.67, 15/4 *0230, V. of Iranian Kurdistan, via Iraq, start of broadcast with hymn, Holy Kuran, female talks & interview mentioning Kurdistan, Codar QRM, fair, frequency drifting (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano Italy, Drake R-4C - Excalibur Pro - Elad FDM-S1, ant: T2FD 15 meters long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KUWAIT. 17550, April 12 at 2110, R. Kuwait secret Arabic to US is JBA, unlike yesterday; but despite much further into the night, at 2354 now with fair signal, and off at 2403 recheck (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KYRGYZSTAN. On April 14, 1000-1035 UT, 4010 kHz, Birinchi Radio in the Russian language, congratulations the head of state with the Passover, news, announcements in the Kyrgyz, news sports in Russian, IDs. 55555 (Dmitry Puzanov, Almaty, Kazakhstan, Degen DE1103 & Degen DE31MS, via RusDX April 15 via DXLD) ?? Birinchi Radio is the name of the first program home service a.k.a. KGR1, per WRTH 2012 page 257 (gh, DXLD) ** LAOS. 6129.983v, 15/4 2230, Lao National Radio, presumed, clear carrier, but not usable because strong PBS signal on 6130 (see TIBET) (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano Italy, Drake R-4C - Excalibur Pro - Elad FDM-S1, ant: T2FD 15 meters long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MACAU. RADIO VILA VERDE, MACAO - A CURIOUS AND INTRIGUING TALE OF QSL NON-RECEIPT: I chanced to hear this elusive mediumwave station in April 2010 while on vacation in Pattaya, Thailand. I promptly sent them a reception report via airmail in Portuguese with US $5 via airmail, along with an English version of the report in May 2010. I followed up with an email to the station (from their website) in August of 2010 without result. After I returned to the USA, I sent them another follow-up via registered email with letters in Portuguese, simplified Chinese and English with 3 IRCs in September of 2011. In October of 2011, I received the pink receipt card back, indicating they had signed for my letter on the 23rd of September 2011. Finally, out of desperation, I sent a polite letter requesting assistance to the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC. I received the following letter reply: "Dear Mr. Muick, We have been trying to help you contact Radio Vila Verde. We finally spoke to someone from the station who refused to disclose his name. According to what he said, they didn't receive your letter. We offered transferring your letter to them, but were refused." Wow. I wonder who signed for the registered letter then, if they did not receive it? Interestingly, no one signed the letter form the Chinese Embassy, nor was it on official stationery, however it did arrive in an official envelope. The man refused to disclose is name?! Refused a letter from the Chinese Embassy?! A case of pass-the-buck, or international intrigue? You decide, my dear colleagues. So, I am now somewhat ensconced in Williamsport, Pennsylvania and still looking for s short-term DX property to rent until this contract is over. Wish me luck. 73 to all! (Al Muick, Williamsport, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. Was a big day for Malaysia! Heard frequent announcements in vernacular on 7295 as early as 1217 tune-in to 1530 tuneout to congratulate his Majesty, who was crowned king; the 14th Yang di- Pertuan Agong; so probably 24 hour broadcasting today (April 11). (Ron Howard, Monterey CA, SW Bulletin April 15 via DXLD) ** MALI. 5995, RTVM, 2345-2400*, local tribal music. Indigenous vocals. Talk in unidentified language. Fair, but occasional weak modulation. April 12 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA, Icom IC-7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also SPAIN/COSTA RICA on 5995 ** MAURITANIA. 7245, April 17 at 0556, nothing from IGIM, nor have heard it for several nights now; just coming on too late, or not at all? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 780, XEMTS, Radio Fórmula, Tampico, Tamaulipas. 1108 April 11, 2012. Tejano vocal, male at 1109 with Radio Fórmula slogan, back to vocals. Someone else fading up with, “... la única.. internacional...” by female at 1113 and lots of phone keypad tones SFX, then all quickly faded down with post-sunrise here. 950, MEXICO unidentified. 1052 April 11, 2012. Male DJ, Spanish ballads, laser SFX at 1100 into Mexican national anthem, announcer at 1103, but impossible to copy the ID and shortly lost. Radio Reloj a minor QRM (and it's wobbling on audio again). 1055-1106 April 12, 2012: male with a couple of "la Mágica" slogans and maybe an FM frequency reference, into truncated version of the common choral Mexican anthem at 1059, "la Mágica" slogan after and into soft Spanish ballad. No la Mágica slogan listed on 950 in Fred Cantú's list, nor do any of the listed FM simulcasts match with this slogan. 950, XETO Radio Romántica, Tampico, Tamaulipas. 1045-1103 April 14, 2012. The one I've been following for a week, thinking it was IDing as “la Mágica” is actually this one. Unable to find a Mágica slogan or catch the calls/FM frequency announced until today. Clear ID at 1058 by reverb male, “Romántica, 98.5 FM y 950 AM” into choral anthem, then male ID with FM and AM calls, mention of Tampico. Bad QRM from 970 WFLA IBOC up at 1100. 950, MEXICO unidentified. 1059 April 14, 2012. While IDing XETO, another weaker Mexican with ID not copied was audible. Male announcer, into choral anthem. Lost under XETO's bigger signal (Terry L Krueger, from the Clearwater, FL QTH with NRD-535, ICOM IC-R75 and Sangean PR- D5; 1 X roof dipole, 1 X room random wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 6185, April 15 at 0510, not even a carrier detectable from XEPPM, amid the strong signals from Brasil 6180 [UT Sundays only at this hour], and China/Canada on 6190. Which reminds me that I haven`t noticed R. Educación at other hours lately either. Is it off the air? I`ve asked Julián Santiago in the DF, also about whether R. Mil is still absent from 6010 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) viz.: Hola Julián, Felices cumpeaños. Anoche a las 0510, entre las señales muy fuertes desde Brasil en 6180 y China/Canadá en 6190, no pude detectar ni una portadora desde México. Lo que me hace acordar la falta de XEPPM a otras horas. En realidad ¿está fuera del aire, y porqué? Y ¿cuál de Radio Mil? Hubo un sólo informe después de su noticia de su silencio, lo que sospecho ser erróneo, i.e. Colombia. Cerca de las 10 TU. 73, (Glenn to Julían Santiago, via DXLD) 6185, still checking for signs of life from R. Educación, XEPPM: April 16 at 0246 there is a weak carrier but no modulation; this is before China/Sackville comes on 6190, but while RNA Brasília is still on 6180 with strong signal. The carrier could be Vatican prior to its 03-05 east European service starting with Ukrainian. At 0532, aside huge 6190 signal at first I think there is a carrier on 6185, then not; maybe local device spur. 0620 after CRI is off, definitely zero on 6185 which used to be a good clear time for XEPPM. 6185, April 17 at 0554, zero signal from Radio Educación, likewise after CRI/Canada 6190 is finished a few minutes later. Some time ago I pointed out that XEPPM could cover a lot of Mexico in the daytime on 6185 with no interference, unlike most of the evening with ACI and CCI. 6185, trying to hear R. Educación, XEPPM: April 17 at 2356 weak carrier with no modulation audible, continuing past 2402; there is ACI from Brasil 6180, but no big signal on 6190 yet. At 0117 April 18, still carrier with no modulation detectable, vs bigsig from Brasil 6180 and now very bigsig from RNW Dutch Bonaire 6190. 0153, same situation except no 6190 problem, Bonaire off after 0127. 0257-0301+, 6185 with trace of modulation, unknown if in Spanish. However, Vatican is at 03-05 to E Europe, starting with Ukrainian. 0449, now some poor modulation, music sounds Greek, which is perfectly possible for XEPPM`s eclectic format; then M&W conversing. Modulation is still so low I can`t be sure it`s Spanish. Or is it Vatican? About this time I checked MW 1060 and there was something else in Spanish, maybe XEEP in separate programming, or a US station, surely not the 1 kW Veracruz, only other Mexican on 1060 besides 100 kW XEEP. 0547, no carrier detectable; and during this hour only, 6190 has CRI via Sackville. But even with BFO, I can`t find any signal on 6185. 0605, zero signal on 6185, and in fact nothing audible on 49m above 6160 Canada/Newfoundland. I asked Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla in the DF about XEPPM, and he replied April 15: ``Desde hace un mes XEPPM transmite todo el día en los 6185 kHz; la he captado en la mañana, al mediodía y en la noche. No sé si ha salido del aire en la madrugada pero he de confirmar esta semana cuál es la situación.`` For a month he has been hearing it all day long, not sure if it`s still on overnight, to be checked out. Follow-up April 17: ``Hola Glenn: hoy hablé telefónicamente con Pilar Cruz, encargada de la onda corta y me confirmó el nuevo horario de Radio Educación onda corta -6185 kHz- el cual es de las 09:00 a las 06:00 -hora del Centro- (1400 a 1100 UT). Asimismo la programación independiente de la onda corta es de las 17:00 a las 00:00 horas del Centro (22:00 a 05:00 UTC), horario en el que tienen programas exclusivos para la onda corta; el resto del tiempo la programación es la misma que la de la onda media 1060 kHz`` Pilar Cruz, who is in charge of the SW service, confirmed on the phone that the 6185 schedule is now 14-11 UT; separate SW programming is at 22-05, the rest of the time relaying MW 1060. I replied: ``Hola Julian, Gracias, pero sigue sin escucharse en varias horas de la noche. Estoy seguro que no esta en el aire por 6185, ejemplo anoche antes y despues de las 06 TU. Tal vez Sra. Cruz no sepa que no funciona actualmente en OC?? No nos importan tanto las horas distintas de la programacion OC, sino las horas correctas que transmiten en OC, sea con programacion de OM o no. Tal vez queria decir, en OC solo de 09 a 18 hora del centro?? En vez de hasta 06? Por favor tratar de escucharla en 6185 a las horas nocturnas y diurnas? Voy a probar aun mas esta tarde. Acabo de consultar su sitio web, donde aparece nada de esto. Nisquiera una grilla de programas OC, como antes hubo. Solo esto: http://www.radioeducacion.mx/onda-corta ``Su transmisión con programación propia es de las 18:00 a las 12:00 y de ahí se enlaza con la señal de AM hasta las 6:00 horas.`` Parece que queria decir 18:00 a las 24:00 (o 00:00) .... AM hasta las 6:00 --- en hora local, el esquema anterior. 73, Glenn`` [Summary translation:] Thanks but it continues to be unheard at various times in the night. For example last night it was not audible on 6185 before or after 0600 UT. Maybe Mrs. Cruz is not aware that SW is not funxioning? The SW-only programming hours are not as important to us as the correct hours when SW is transmitted, whether with MW programming or not. Maybe she meant to say from 9 to 18 central time, instead of until 06? Please try to hear 6185 during night and day. I am going to try harder this evening. I just consulted their website where nothing about this appears. Not even a SW program grid, like there used to be, just this at http://www.radioeducacion.mx/onda-corta ``Its transmission with separate program is from 18:00 to 12:00 hours, and from then on linked to the AM signal until 6:00`` Apparently this was supposed to say from 18 to 24 (or 00), and then AM until 06, which was the old schedule. Julián replies April 17: ``Hola Glenn: en estos momentos 18:25 -Central Time- escucho perfecto a XEPPM -6185 kHz-, mas noche nuevamente intentaré escuchar. Te aclaro, el nuevo horario de trasmisión de la onda corta es de las 09:00 hasta las 06:00 del día siguiente -Central Time- "descansa" 3 horas entre las 06:00 y las 09:00 - Central Time- La programación propia de la onda corta -separada del 1060 - inicia a las 17:00 -Central Time con una hora de música mexicana, a las 18:00 inicia la programación hablada y concluye a las 24:00 horas, a las 24:00 horas se toma la programación de la onda media. Todos los horarios te los doy en "Central Time". Si hay alguna duda escribeme y me comunico con la Srita. Cruz, Saludos, Julián`` He was hearing it perfectly at 2325 UT, and reiterates the above new schedule info, i.e. on the air continuously from 14 to 11 UT the next day, taking a break at 11-14. From my monitoring as above, it seems to be on the air until 0500 UT or so but just barely modulated, and off the air after 0500, until --- ? Possibly the MUF falls below 6185 around local midnight, but at 2 megameters distance, this was habitually audible best after 0600 when the QRM cleared up. BTW, when I went to their website, this popped up: ``Aviso importante En términos de lo dispuesto por el artículo 41 de la Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, durante el tiempo que comprendan las campañas electorales y hasta la conclusión de la jornada comicial, debe suspenderse la difusión en los medios de comunicación social de toda propaganda gubernamental. Por ello, del 30 de marzo al 1 de julio de 2012, inclusive, se suspenderá el acceso a las secciones de este portal de Internet que contienen difusión de programas, acciones, obras o logros de gobierno.`` Saying all government advertising and links on the website to anything about government activities has been suspended during the election campaign, 30 March to 1 July, in accordance with Art. 41 of the constitution. Does this mean all stations have also suspended all government PSAs, which are normally required and ubiquitous, including those lauding the Presidencia in particular? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Just in: XEPPM admits they are off the air after 0500 UT (gh, DXLD) ** MYANMAR. 7110, Thazin Radio via Pyin U Lwin, 1430-1501*, April 11 (Wednesday). Theme music; in English; recorded intro; pop songs (Nazareth “Love Hurts”, etc.); talk about Hkakabo Razi, a protected area of “1,476 square miles” and contains the highest peak in Myanmar at “5,880 meters”; mentioned “scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society of New York” visited the area in 1997; more pop songs (Willie Nelson “You Were Always On My Mind”, etc.); recorded sign off announcement. This is the same program heard last Wednesday (April 4) and today even played most of the same musical selections. Thazin Radio on 7110 was off the air on April 12. Entire staff out celebrating the Thingyan Festival, the Burmese New Year Water Festival? [see below, a report has it on April 12] April 13 found Thazin Radio back again on 7110; English segment from 1430 to 1501*; usual intro plus a special: “I wish you a very happy Thingyan and a special Happy Myanmar New Year today and I hope you all excellent health, wealth and happiness.” MP3 audio at http://www.box.com/s/3e1bc8ea3aa0dec463e5 1443-1447: Segment on the Five Precepts of Buddhism in Myanmar; saying the precepts in vernacular and “Meaning …” abstaining from taking a life, taking what is not given, sexual misconduct, telling a lie and intoxicants; back to music (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7110, Thazin Radio Service, April 12. Poor at 1130 with short chime IS and TC; into talk with sudden transmission breaks; April 13 beginning at 1204 poor but still audible with songs; talk in Burmese (presumed) by woman at 1205; gaining strength by 1216; presumed ID at 1230; continued fair with songs; noticeable decline in signal strength by 1235. Tnx to Don Jensen for the appropriate way to list this station (Jim Ronda, Tulsa, OK. Equipment: NRD-545, R-75 + PAR-SWL antenna, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** MYANMAR. 7345 kHz is received well in Japan only for 30 minutes from 1030 UT s/on every day. It is blocked from 1100 UT by CNR-1 (Sei- ichi Hasegawa, Japan, April 14, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews April 18 via WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. [GERMANY/MADAGASCAR] Special Dutch program of RNW Hilversum, 24 hrs FAREWELL program from Thursday May 10 at 22 UT till Friday May 11 at 22 UT. Additional bookings on this last transmission day: kHz time loc kW deg 5955 0000-0500 WER 500 210 5955 1000-1500 WER 500 210 5955 1700-2000 WER 500 210 6020 0000-0300 MDG 250 255 6020 1900-2000 MDG 250 255 6020 2130-2400 MDG 250 255 {May 10th} 21485 0600-1400 MDG 250 045 21710 0600-1400 MDG 250 310 (RNW, April 13)(Wolfgang Büschel, April 13, dxldyg via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. 65 YEARS RADIO NETHERLANDS WORLDWIDE RNW By Myrtille van Bommel 15 April 2012 http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/65-years-radio-netherlands-worldwide Today it is exactly 65 years ago that Radio Netherlands Worldwide began its activities as an international broadcaster. A lot has changed over the years, so time to look back. On 15 April 1947, RNW was set up by the Dutch government. The new foundation was charged with “putting together and preparing radio programmes to be received outside the borders of the Netherlands” and began broadcasting in Dutch, Indonesian, English and Spanish. In the early days RNW had a ‘Greetings Department’, since making phone calls across the globe was difficult and very expensive. RNW also broadcast news, current affairs and cultural programmes. The broadcasts of this period reflect the post-war reconstruction phase. In 1949, broadcasting started in Arabic and in Afrikaans for South Africa. In 1950, a new department was set up to compile radio programmes and distribute them to foreign stations. At the same time music activities were begun by way of partner stations abroad. RNW also gained an important new target group: Dutch emigrants in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. In 1952, RNW began broadcasts aimed specifically at them. 1960-1990: In 1964, RNW’s music department was one of the first in Europe to make music recordings in stereo for foreign FM stations. The Radio Netherlands Training Centre was set up in 1968 to train radio personnel from developing countries. A French department was opened in 1969 and broadcasts in Portuguese to Brazil began in 1974. In 1975, there was a review of the programmes broadcast on short wave: a stronger emphasis was placed on news and current affairs programmes. 1990 - today: In 1991, RNW became the first organisation in the Netherlands, apart from the Dutch PTT, to be granted a licence to broadcast programmes directly by satellite for radio stations in Latin America. This was followed in 1992 by collaboration with local radio stations in Latin America. In 1994, RNW began working together with domestic broadcasters on the exchange and co-production of programmes. An RNW office was opened in West Africa in 1995 to serve listeners in the region via local radio stations. Today RNW provides independent information and background reports in countries where press freedom is not a matter of course. This means that millions of people around the world with little or no access to information can enjoy reliable and impartial reporting. News about their own country and their own situation, as well as international news from a Dutch perspective. RNW operates in ten languages (Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, Indonesian, Papiamento, Portuguese, Sarnami and Spanish) on short wave, satellite, internet Facebook, Twitter, Apps and partner stations all over the world. Watch a video about Frans Klooster, RNW's longest-serving employee Future: From 2013 everything will be changing. Last year the Dutch government decided to cut back RNW’s budget drastically. In future RNW is to limit its focus to providing impartial information to people in countries where press freedom is an issue. For a small group of RNW employees this will be a new challenge. Sadly, for the majority of the staff and for a large part of our audience this will mean the end of an era (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. 6095, 15/4 1120, KBC, via Germany, show, great songs, perfect local audio (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano Italy, Drake R-4C - Excalibur Pro - Elad FDM-S1, ant: T2FD 15 meters long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Martedì 17 aprile 2012, *1001 - 6095 kHz, TRANSPORT RADIO via KBC, Olandese, nxs OM e jingles. Segnale molto buono-buono, Solo fino al 21 aprile (Luca Botto Fiora, G.C. 09E13 - 44N21, Rapallo (Genova) - Italia, playdx yg via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. Radio New Zealand International advises on its website that from today, 4/14, its DRM narrowcasts at 0759-1158 and 1551-1650 are transmitted on 7440, ex 7285 (DanFerguson, April 14, NASWA yg via DXLD) Ha! Just as I complained earlier they should be out-of-band instead of messing the SWBC 41m/ham 40m band. I bet RNZI doesn`t call them ``narrowcasts`` --- audience narrow, bandwidth wide. Yes schedule as of 1900 UT April 15 shows: ``Our direct broadcasts can be heard on short-wave as follows: 25 Mar 2012 [sic] - 27 Oct 2012 UTC kHz Target 0459-0650 11725 AM 11675 DRM Pacific 0651-0758 11725 AM 11675 DRM Tonga 0759-1058 6170 AM 7440 DRM Pacific from from 14 April 1059-1158 9655 AM 7440 DRM Timor from 14 April 1159-1258 9655 AM Timor, NW Pacific 1300-1550 6170 AM Pacific 1551-1650 6170 AM 7440 DRM Cook Islands, Samoa, Fiji from 14 April 1651-1836 9615 AM 9890 DRM Cook Islands, Samoa, Fiji 1837-1850 9615 AM 11675 DRM Samoa 1851-2150 11725 AM 15720 DRM Niue, Fiji Tonga Samoa 2151-0458 15720 AM 17675 DRM Pacific`` (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. 9885-9890-9895, April 16 at 0705 DRM noise. Since 9890 is a known RNZI DRM frequency, I assume that`s the source, while RNZI AM is on 11725. However the current schedule on their website shows: ``0651-0758 11725 AM 11675 DRM Tonga Daily`` and no DRM heard around 11675. The only time when 9890 is supposed to be on: ``1651-1836 9615 AM 9890 DRM Cook Islands, Samoa, Fiji Daily`` Could it be something else? Guess what, latest HFCC does show RNZI DRM on 9890 at this time: ``9890 0700 0800 61S,62,63W RAN 25 35 0 148 1234567 250312 281012 N 9890 ENG NZL RNZ RNZ 1453`` but also on 11675 at 05-08, so these are alternatives, RNZI`s posted schedule outdated again (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No reply from Adrian, but as of April 19, schedule had been changed again to account for 9890 DRM when I heard it: 25 Mar 2012 - 27 Oct 2012 [sic] UTC kHz Target Days 0459-0650 11725 AM 11675 DRM Pacific 0651-0758 11725 AM 9890 DRM Tonga ************* 0759-1058 6170 AM 7440 DRM Pacific from 14 April 1059-1158 9655 AM 7440 DRM Timor from 14 April 1159-1258 9655 AM Timor, NW Pacific 1300-1550 6170 AM Pacific 1551-1650 6170 AM 7440 DRM Cook Islands,Samoa, Fiji from 14 April 1651-1836 9615 AM 9890 DRM Cook Islands,Samoa, Fiji 1837-1850 9615 AM 11675 DRM Samoa 1851-2150 11725 AM 15720 DRM Niue, Fiji Tonga Samoa 2151-0458 15720 AM 17675 DRM Pacific (from http://www.rnzi.com/pages/listen.php 2120 UT April 18 via WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DXLD) 15720, 15/4 1905, Radio New Zealand International, DRM label "New Zealand, varied, RNZI" voice only sometimes, so not usable (S 6) (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano Italy, Drake R-4C - Excalibur Pro - Elad FDM-S1, ant: T2FD 15 meters long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also RUSSIA: 15721 ** NICARAGUA. 700, La Poderosa, Managua. 2351-0004 April 10-11, 2012. Again, tentatively the one but at a different time (sunset line instead of local sunrise). Weak Spanish, fading up, and then at 2359, male canned ID, of which only “... desde Managua, Nicaragua...” was captured. Surely this is the one. First local evening log, if so. 720, Radio Católica, Managua. 0004 April 11, 2012. Believe the one, good post-sunset signal at the QTH with Spanish female scripture quotes and big group response, nonstop. Back to female call/response with countless Santa María pleads. Mostly gone by 0038, though Inspirational Christian Spanish vocals popping up through WGN at times through 0050 tune-out. Seemingly someone else based on follow-up log of 0018 April 12: same female with the call/response for the holy Santa María, three bell tower gongs 0032 and call/response resumed. Finally at 0036, Spanish female Christian vocal, female DJ, more vocals, female reverb ID 0056 and 0057, seemingly the same long (canned, maybe) ID, man with talk from 0101. WGN QRM somewhat after 0030. 720, Radio Católica, Managua. 2342 April 12, 2012. Following up on the previous local sunset logs: first traces audible from 2342, building signal and a Católica ID 0000 and 0004, into an intro for a Monsignor [someone] at 0004 then the Monsignor hosting the rosary with many Santa María and Santa María, Madre de dios congregation responses in full-swing by 0019. Hard break 0022, Católica ID again, back to the Monsignor and his audience, 0027 break, and 0049 canned ID by man with frequency. Signal very spotty on fade-ups/downs after 0055. April 13 2358: female, “Radio Católica, Managua” and again at 0001 with mention of an FM frequency, into rosary from 0002 (Terry L Krueger, from the Clearwater, FL QTH with NRD-535, ICOM IC-R75 and Sangean PR-D5; 1 X roof dipole, 1 X room random wire, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. 6089.847, 15/4 2214, Radio Nigeria, Kaduna, long talks in Hausa (presumed), then traditional African song, fair, in LSB to avoid Caribbean Beacon on 6090 (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano Italy, Drake R- 4C - Excalibur Pro - Elad FDM-S1, ant: T2FD 15 meters long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. 15120, April 13 at 0534, VON is JBM with hum and whine; at least it`s on in non-DRM and propagating. 15115-15120-15125, April 13 at 1912, VON DRM noise is on. Presumably will be off April 14-15 for weekend. 15120 AM, April 14 at 0547, VON with humwhine but sufficient modulation level, about Nigerian youth, song ``Show a Little Kindness``. 15120, April 16 at 0708, VON, poor signal weaker than R. Africa 15190, now in French, hum, bit of classical music. Reception on this band actually improved after 0700 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Voice of Nigeria in DRM good in Italy now --- 15120, is broadcasting now in DRM (16 April 2012 1835 UT) with good signal. The label is: Voice Of Nigeria. The running text: New transmitting station in Abuja, TSW2300D, 100 kw with curtain antenna. Ciao. I posted some images and info about Voice of Nigeria in DRM on 15120 kHz: http://radiodxsw.blogspot.it/ (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15120, April 18 at 0555, VON good signal with hum, sufficient but undermodulation giving address english @ voiceofnigeria.com and closing program credits (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. Pirates: KIPM, Illuminati Prima Materia: 6925/USB, 0406-0458+, 8-Apr; Alan Maxwell & Dr. Peters figure out from the polyhedron that all galaxies are moving away from ours because it's infected with the disease of life. Began long closing at 0445 with IDs including Voyage of the Illuminati; repeated obsolete Elkhorn NE drop, spelling Elkhorn phonetically, leaving out the "h", as he often did. Went right into new program "The Legend of Tiamant" at 0454. SIO=454. Relay by Undercover Radio per later log by Lobdell (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNDERCOVER RADIO: 6925/USB, 0149-0202+, 7-Apr; Dr. Benway with Easter weekend show "broadcasting from the middle of nowhere"; said he was catching up on QSLs as far back as 2008; reminisced about a flashback to when he dropped acid 25 years ago, accompanied by ethereal music; the latter sounding very Alan Maxwellish --- or maybe Alan Maxwell sounded very Dr. Benwayish; QSL via undercoverradio @ gmail.com SIO= 3+54 (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. [Pirates]. 6925 USB, Red Mercury Labs, 0230-0240, Johnny Cash music. ID. Shoutouts. Mentioned running 150 watts. Weak. Poor in noisy conditions. April 14. 6934.88, Radio Appalachia, 0123-0150, bluegrass music. IDs. “Free Voice of the Ohio Valley, broadcasting from high above Moundsville, West Virginia.” Poor to fair in noisy conditions. April 14. 6924.3, Hot Legs Radio, *2340-0010, music from James Bond movies. Pop music by Whitney Houston and others. IDs. Email address. Poor in noisy conditions. April 14-15 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, Icom IC- 7600, two 100 foot longwires, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. Azad Kashmir Radio - Radio TrarKhel via Pakistan - eQSL haven't seen PBC eQSL before but after this one saw another Indian DXer also get similar QSL. Attached the JPG version of the QSL. Also at https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150730119069038&set=a.58781849037.64689.831214037&type=1&ref=nf I have informed them that most of the PBC foreign language services are not usable, either no signal or no / proper modulation. Only Urdu service can be heard sometimes. 73s (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, W.B., India, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Date: Fri, Apr 13, 2012 at 12:00 PM Subject: Re: Reception Report from India To: "Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, W.B., India" Mr Goswami, Greetings from Pakistan. Thank you for monitoring our programme of Radio TrarKhel, your greetings towards their staff has been conveyed to them. We here at Frequency Management Cell manage a list of Foreign Listners to assist us in the process of betterment of our services by continually having correspondence with them. For your conformation, I have here attached a file as soft copy of QSL. Hope you will like it. now the new summer season Schedule A-12 is available at our website mentioned on the QSL card attached. You can browse and have a reception report prepared. Hoping to receive more reports from you. Wishing for your health. Asad Ayub Engg. Mngr. Frequency Management Cell PBC Hqrs. Islamabad PAKISTAN (via Goswami, ibid.) See also KASHMIR ** PERU. 3329.51, Perú, Ondas del Huallaga, Huánuco, 1000 to 1010 with om into music 13 April (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 4826.526, Radio Sicuani, Sicuani, Cusco, 0928 under CODAR with good signal to 1030. noted 0000 and 0900 for the last week (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA, and XM - Cedar Key - South Florida, NRD 525D - R8A, via Bob Wilkner, April 14, NASWA yg via DXLD) 4974.8, Perú, Radio Pacífico, Lima, noted 0917 to 0925 on 14 April (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PERU. Confirmaciones recibidas por correo-e: PERÚ 5678 RADIO ILUCAN Correo-e, v/s Over Helí Sanchez B - Administrador Demoró: 1 días [sic] Informe enviado a: radioilucan @ hotmail.com Confirmación a sus antiguas emisiones en la onda corta y luego de mucho tiempo de haber enviado al menos tres cartas por correo postal. 9505 RADIO TACNA Correo-e, v/s Alfonso Cáceres Contreras - Gerente Demoró: 1 días [sic] Adjunto fotos (Montaje realizado por mí) Informe enviado a: radiotacna @ gmail.com, radiotacna_web @ hotmail.com Confirmación a sus antiguas emisiones en la onda corta y luego de mucho tiempo de haber enviado al menos tres cartas por correo postal. Imágenes y más: http://dxdesdecolombia.blogspot.com/ Buenos DX (Rafael Rodríguez R., Bogotá D.C. - COLOMBIA, condiglist yg via DXLD) Both of these, of course, are long gone from SW, QSLed with follow- ups, as it seems they still exist on AM/FM (gh, DXLD) ** ROMANIA. 15310, April 14 at 1857 fair signal with music, 1900 timesignal, Romanian. So it`s RRI`s two-sesquihour 300 kW, 285 degree broadcast from Galbeni to France, each unihour 17-18, 18-19, 19-20 registered separately in HFCC, why? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [and non]. 15721, April 12 at 0403, Russian number stations, in groups of 3 repeated, ending with `null`; 0404 change cadence into groups of 5 as the real secret message starts; with big het from RNZI 15720. This is a long-reported regular spy transmission, not sure if daily but a collision RNZI could avoid by using another frequency. M-F at 0400 it`s just generic RNZ National domestic relay program `Afternoons with Jim Mora` from 0106 to 0500, ``Information and debate, people and places around New Zealand``. But after 0400 Saturdays currently playing is `Around the World in 80 Tunes`, world music thru April only; and `The Sunday Feature`, documentaries from NZ or overseas: I think this is when I have heard some good material from PRI or APM (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [non]. 15760.037, Voice of Russia's English service from Orzu, TAJIKISTAN, to NE/ME observed here at 0523 UT April 14, instead of scheduled 'single hour in Kurdish' language at 05-06 UT. \\ 13775 kHz via Petropavlovsk Kamchatsky to N America (Wolfgang Büschel, April 14, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Radio Rossii --- In the list of Radio transmission Russia should add : Radio of Russia 5 : 1325-1700 at 9480 Radio of Russia 4 : 2245-1900 on 4050. 1-th of April /no joke/ at 0100 news was on 4050, 5930, 6085, 6160, 7230, and from 0111 h different programs on Russian: one on the 7230, the other on 4050 and 6085 and seventh on 5930 and 6160 kHz. All of the frequencies were heard here near Sofia. - Question to the experts: In a timeframe Voice of Russia on one and the same frequency in the same hour listed somewhere on two or three times of transmission for different Zonn, for example on 1089 kHz three times - on the Northeast / Middle East, Ukraine and Moldova and the Caucasus from 18 up to 19 hours. Also for 1143 kHz with a 18h, etc. on 1089 kHz there are three transmitters, each of 1200 kW or one transmitter to three antennas? (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, via RusDX April 15 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. GTRK "Buryatia" (Radio Buryatia) verified my reception report in Russian with 1 IRC by PFC QSL (in Russian) after 66 days via registered air mail. QSL was officially stamped and signed by Ms. Lyudmila Moiseeva, chief of radio broadcasting. She also sent me the previous notice by E-mail. The station broadcasts regional programs in Russian and Buryat on 279/6195 kHz as follows (Time UT); Sun-Thu 2110-2200 News in Buryat and Russian "Morning Buryatia", interview program "Radio studio - Birakan River" 2210-2300 News in Buryat and Russian "Morning Buryatia", interview program "Radio studio - Birakan River" Mon-Fri 0210-0230 News in Buryat and Russian 0410-0425 Daytime News 0425-0500 Literary and Art program 1010-1025 Evening News in Russian and Buryat 1025-1100 Russian Orthodox program "Native Earth" Sat/Sun 0010-0100 Weekly News Note evening local broadcast is now 1 hour earlier than listed in WRTH 2012. Local Time in Ulan-Ude =UT + 9 hours, all the year round. Address: ul. Erbanova 7A, Ulan-Ude, Buryat Republic, Russia 670000 TEL/FAX: +7 3012 21 23 10 URL: http://www.bgtrk.ru/ (Takahito Akabayashi, Japan, UT April 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RWANDA. AUDIOCLIP: RADIO RWANDA, ID. AND S/OFF 2045-2100 UT, 6055 kHz with good signal. Program with music, ID and sign-off. The audioclip is available here [1:42]: http://blog.libero.it/radioascolto/11239951.html 73's (Francesco Cecconi, Central Italy, condiglist yg via DXLD) Viz.: Non sono moltissimi i segnali broadcast africani rimasti sulle onde corte e molto spesso, a parte le stazioni superpower, sono anche di difficile ascolto. Radio Rwanda trasmette giornalmente sulla frequenza di 6055 kHz, solitamente intasata di broadcast europee e l'unica finestra di ascolto si apre per una mezz'ora dalle 2030 alle 2100 UTc in concomitanza della chiusura delle trasmissioni giornaliere. Con la frequenza libera il segnale di Radio Rwanda è piuttosto buono come si può ascoltare da questa clip audio con l'identificazione dell'emittente alla chiusura delle trasmissioni giornaliere (via DXLD) ** SAIPAN [and non]. PHILIPPINES/SAIPAN, 12095. QSL: FEBC International via Bocaue verified an electronic report with an electronic reply in 9 days from Owen who recently inherited the QSL response task for the station: "I use to be the antenna rigger on our FEBC short wave station KFBS on the island of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. We had 4 Continental 418D 100 kW transmitters that we modified to Solid State modulators a few years ago. One of them was also modified to conduct DRM tests on. I was involved in that experimentation, as well as the modulator upgrade. We had 3 high gain TCI curtain antennas. One for Indonesian / Vietnamese, one for Mandarin, and one for our Russian service. Sadly, a little over a year ago, the station was dismantled, due to a number of reasons. The transmitters will eventually be installed in Bocaue and Iba, Philippines at our two SW facilities there. I am now a consultant within FEBC and travel to a number of our stations as the need arises. As a matter of interest, the transmitter in Bocaue are very similar models to the ones on Saipan, and the antennae are a slightly newer model 611TCI antenna than our Saipan ones." (Rich D'Angelo, PA, DXplorer April 15 via BC-DX April 18 via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 15170, April 12 at 0318, BSKSA HQS with Qur`an, good signal but heavy flutter; no CCI, as to be expected per schedules, but at 0407 check now it has QRM. This is the collision per HFCC: 03-06 Riyadh 500 kW 355 degrees 04-05 CRI Kashgar 100 kW 174 degrees 05-06 CRI Jinhua 500 kW 59 degrees In the spring & summer, 15170 is a pleasant way to drift off to dreamland before 0400, unless you comprehend Arabic. The flutter only adds to the mystique, and does not impede our understanding at all. 17660, April 12 at 1402, sounds Arabic, which of course it is during Qur`an segment, but French is scheduled from BSKSA at 14-18 due west from 500 kW Riyadh. Accompanied by a constant wavering het on the hi side, sounds like a banshee! Compared with keyboard, pitches range approx. 150-200 Hz in the octave below middle C. 1440 still the same; at 1459 announcement definitely in French. Final check at 1513, still French but the banshee is finally gone. Aoki and EiBi show no other broadcaster scheduled on 17660 at this time. HFCC has NHK Yamata until 1500, presumably wooden, but I would not expect that to be off-frequency, and there was never any program modulation. Unlikely a jammer, maybe a ute? Or defect in BSKSA`s own transmitter. Also can`t rule out Iran transmitter which is supposed to be on 17660 at 0530-0927 only (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15285, April 17 at 0532, Qur`an but not Iran as on 15320, 15530: BSKSA Swahili service at 04-07, 90 degrees from Riyadh (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SEYCHELLES [non]. UZBEKISTAN/RUSSIA/RWANDA, 9500, FEBA Urdu language outlet replaced Novosibirsk booking by Tashkent-UZB at 1400- 1445 UT. 11655, FEBA Afar section broadcast replaced Armavir-RUS Krasnodar relay by DWL Kigali-RRW relay site at 1600-1630 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews April 13, dxldyg via DXLD) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. 5019.9, SIBC, 1030 audible in LSB with Havana signal way down in power. 11 April (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, S Florida, NRD 535D -746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SOMALIA [non]. Some BABCOCK changes from April 1: IBRA Radio in Somali from May 1: 1730-1800 NF 11740 MEY 100 kW / 020 deg to EaAf, ex 11610 to avoid VOR in French. Radio Damal The Voice of the Somali People in Somali, temporarily suspended 0400-0700 on 15700 DHA 250 kW / 205 deg to EaAf 1830-1930 on 11740 WOF 300 kW / 122 deg to EaAf 1930-2130 on 11650 DHA 250 kW / 205 deg to EaAf (DX Re Mix News 16 April via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. 15255, April 18 at 0601 music in a loop, but not BaBcoCk`s; 0602 Channel Africa, ``Voice of the African Renaissance`` introducing final hour of program on 7230, 15255 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. USA (and non) Brother Stair via Tiganesti / Wertachtal / Yerevan from April 2 0700-1000 15750 ERV 300 kW / 192 deg EaAf Sat 1300-1500 15190 TIG 300 kW / 100 deg SEAs 1400-1500 9655 WER 100 kW / 285 deg WeEu 1500-1600 13810 WER 100 kW / 120 deg N/ME 1500-1700 15700 TIG 300 kW / 100 deg SEAs Sat, cancelled from Apr. 14 1600-1700 15425 ERV 300 kW / 125 deg SEAs, not 1500-1700 1800-2200 9400 ERV 100 kW / 305 deg WeEu (DX Re Mix News 16 April via DXLD) ** SPAIN. 15585, REE Noblejas once again send out terrible broadband spurious emission with many peak spikes in range 15430 to 15715 kHz. 1215 UT April 14 (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Bet it`s the same transmitter as on 15110 after 1855, which sometimes does this, sometimes not; 15585 never strong enough here to hear those spurs (gh, OK, DXLD) 21610, April 12 at 1414, no signal from REE; yet REE is still the understation on 21540 making SAH and CCI with KUWAIT! The A-12 schedule shows 21610 is supposed to be on daily from 11 to 17 in Spanish (including Basque at 1240-1255 M-F [I thought that was longer, starting just after 1230?]); 17-21 in Arabic. 11890, Sunday April 15 at 0506, REE is opening the 25-minute `Horizonte` program, identified as a weekly review of Catholic church activities in Spain, also on weaker // 12035. So here is another government station violating Separation of Church & State. Do they have equivalent programs about all other religions? Ha. Wikipedia says Spain does not have a state religion, yet: ``A number of countries, including Andorra, Argentina, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Italy, Haiti, Honduras, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain give a special recognition to Catholicism in their constitution despite not making it the state religion.`` Maybe that entitles it to first-among-equals status at REE? It`s not the ``Catholic Constitutional Monarchy of Spain`` even tho the monarchs of yore were commonly referred to as ``Los Reyes Católicos``. As recently as 2002y the World Almanac gave the country`s official title (in translation) as ``Kingdom of Spain``, and chief religion: 99% Roman Catholic. Please note: this is a criticism of States favoring one religion over the others, not of the RCC in particular. I would make exactly the same case if it were some other one getting this unfair advantage (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also COSTA RICA ** SRI LANKA. 11750, SLBC Colombo-Ekala 1707-1733 April 10; Various M & W announcers with discussion in listed Sinhala; M & W announcers over music; Hindi music; no discernible ID at BoH; fair (Scott R. Barbour Jr. Intervale, N.H. USA, NRD-545, MLB-1, 200' Beverages, 60m dipole, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) SRI LANKA CHANGES --- From today SLBC is adding two hours of Hindi 1330-1530 UT on 11905 and 7190 kHz from Ekala and reducing one hour of the Service in Sinhala, with limited Tamil and English 1630-1830 UT on 11750 from Trincomalee running at 200 kW. SLBC All Asia Vernaculars 0020-0330 11905, 7190 0830-1215 11905, 7190, 6005 1330-1530 11905, 7190 6005 10kW, 7190 10 kW, 11905 35 kW, 15745 35kW 11750 Trincomalee 200kW English to All Asia 0125-0300 15745, 9770, 6005 (Sundays 0500 or depending on sponsored Gospel programming) To The Middle East and Sri Lankans abroad in Sinha/Tamil/English 1630-1830 UTC 11750 kHz via Trincomalee 200 kW (G. Victor A. Goonetilleke 4S7VK, "Shangri-la"' 298 Madapatha Road, Piliyandala. Sri Lanka. E-mail: victorg@slt.lk victor.goonetilleke@gmail.com Skype: victorgoonetilleke +941 12614098 Mob: +94 718328336, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN. 7200, 15/4 0304, SRTC, Sudan, news mentioning many times Sudan and Omdurman, at 0310 Holy Kuran, Arabic, fair/good (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano Italy, Drake R-4C - Excalibur Pro - Elad FDM-S1, ant: T2FD 15 meters long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. Hi Glenn, Today I noted good reception of Sudan Radio Service in English from 1630 to 1645 UT, 12 April 2012, on 17745 kHz. The program consisted of detailed news from Sudan and South Sudan. At the start of the English programming, there was a station ID at 1630 UTC that included what appeared to be srs@pdc.org, but I couldn't be certain. Mention was also made of "98.6 FM Service," as well as the Nairobi, Kenya postal address and a telephone number. 73's, (Ed Insinger, Summit, NJ, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Ed, It`s edc.org as in Education Development Center. 73, (Glenn to Ed, via DXLD) ** SUDAN [and non]. 15550, April 17 at 0523, pulsing whine jamming with split-second cutouts every 15 sex; target victim possibly JBA underneath, i.e. R. Dabanga, southwestward from UAE site, seldom audible here at the side even without jamming. 11650, April 17 at 0523, usual ringing-tone jamming, quite different sounding from 15550, underneath R. Dabanga, southeastward from VATICAN, but quite audible off the back (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SURINAME. 4990 tentative. Radio Apintie, Paramaribo, 0900 on 14 and 12 April, poor signal per Scott Barbour tent log. 0140 noted weak on 12 April (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, South Florida, NRD 535D - 746Pro - R8 - Sony 2010XA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** TAIWAN [non]. March QSL card from R. Taiwan International --- Hello radio friends! On April 13, 2012 I received a QSL from R. Taiwan International, 6875 kHz Okeechobee 5/03/2012 6:00 UT; sent reception report via web report and received new full data QSL card in 39 days via ordinary mail. The QSL of this month reproduces a work of artist Chen Cheng-po (1895-1947), that is the horizontally painting named "New Building", This work of year 1943 is exhibited at Taipei Fine Arts Museum. 73 from (Nino Marabello, Treviso, Italy, RX: SONY SW7600G, Ant.: VHF outdoor antenna at 230 degrees http://acquamarina.blogspot.it DX LISTENING DIGEST) Let`s see, was it Spanish or German that day? I wonder if RTI would QSL a report for the `wrong` language even tho axually heard? (gh) ** TAIWAN [and non]. Re: DXLD 12-15 UnID Chinese on 7610/7620 kHz UnID Chinese station on 7610 kHz is a Sound of Hope via Taiwan every 30 minutes hopping. Apr. 7 1130-1200 15735 1200-1230 15760 1230-1300 9365, 15770 1300-1330 15745 1330-1400 11565 1400-1430 9995 1430-1500 15765 1500-1530 7610 1530-1600 7620 Apr. 8 1130-1200 15745 1200-1230 15780 1230-1300 9385, 15750 1300-1330 15775 1330-1400 11525 1400-1430 9945 1430-1500 15780 1500-1530 7635 1530-1600 7645 Apr. 9 1130-1200 15755 1200-1230 15745 1230-1300 9370, 15700 1300-1330 15760 1330-1400 11515 1400-1430 9985 1430-1500 15760 1500-1530 7605 (1511:20-firedrake) 1530-1600 7625 Apr. 10 1130-1200 15740 1200-1230 15710 1230-1300 9355, 15760 1300-1330 15750 1330-1400 11585 1400-1430 9940 1430-1500 15775 1500-1530 7615 1530-1600 7605 Apr. 11 1130-1200 15710 1200-1230 15755 1230-1300 9390, 15780 1300-1330 15765 1330-1400 11510 1400-1430 9985 1430-1500 15785 1500-1530 7650 1530-1600 7610 Apr. 12 1130-1200 15750 1200-1230 15730 1230-1300 9380, 15765 (1238:40-firedrake) 1300-1330 15785 1330-1400 11570 1400-1430 9995 1430-1500 15770 1500-1530 7610 (1510:30-1600 firedrake) 1530-1600 7625 Apr. 13 1130-1200 15760 1200-1230 15740 1230-1300 9365, 15765 1300-1330 15710 1330-1400 11515/11570 1400-1430 9945 1430-1500 15790 1500-1530 7640 1530-1600 7655 de Hiroshi (S. Hasegawa-NDXC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAJIKISTAN. 14295.1 kHz; harmonic [x3] from Radio Tajik on 4765 kHz, daily, all day. The German PTT (BNetzA) sent an official complaint to Tajikistan in Dec 2008. The complaint was not regarded. 14295.1 is also mentioned in our "Latest Intruder News" (see: since 2008. It is often helpful to compare observations with our Intruder News. 73 (Wolf DK2OM, intruderalert iaru April 17 via BC-DX April 18 via DXLD) ** THAILAND [and non]. 9395, April 15 at 1406, JBA carrier presumed HSK9 in English as scheduled to SE Asia at 1400-1430. Now it`s free of ACI from WEWN 9390 plus squishy spurs, their English broadcast still unfound anywhere, and maybe R. Thailand is listenable further west. Multi-hop signals were generally attenuated in all direxions today, subpar propagation (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET. 6130, 15/4 2230, PBS Xizang Tibet, China [sic], start of the English program, good // 6110 (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano Italy, Drake R-4C - Excalibur Pro - Elad FDM-S1, ant: T2FD 15 meters long, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET [non]. TAJIKISTAN, 15542, Voice of Tibet via Yangi Yul, Tibetan program ahead of China mainland Firedrake jamming music on 5 kHz spacing nearby 15545 kHz. Tuned in at 1215 to 1230 UT switch-off. 3 kHz whistle tone interference (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews April 14, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) TAJIKISTAN, 15492 / 15558, Voice of Tibet via Yangi Yul at 1335 UT April 15, S=8-9 signal in Tibetan. Firedrake music jamming appeared from China mainland on lower 15490 kHz and upper 15560 kHz, equal level (Wolfgang Buschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews April 15, dxldyg via DXLD) see also CHINA: Firedrake ** TUNISIA [and non]. 7275, April 12 at 0502, IWT with medley of music including a bit of ``Frère Jacques`` apparently in Arabic, a benefit of colonial heritage. This remains a late-nite favorite for music with a usually good signal and seldom any QRhaM. 7275, April 13 at 0542, usual reliable signal from IWT is absent: I soon find it instead on 7225, mixing about equally with the TWR IS, prior to its Polish via AUSTRIA at 0544-0559 only! This has happened a few times before: IWT forgets to retune the transmitter from previous evening frequency 7225 (1658-2110 per EiBi) to morning frequency 7275. 7275, April 14 at 0533, IWT is back on correct frequency with song in Arabic, ex-7225 24 hours earlier (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. 7260, April 12 at 2355, very poor signal in non-English, M&W conversing right past 2400 when automatic timesignal played. Some SSB QRM, and a ham kept cutting an AM carrier on and off at 7258. Still the same but even weaker at 0100 April 13 timesignal, audible at 0113. Presumed TRT, except it`s not supposed to start until 0000. Was checking out a report of something in English on this frequency at 0110 April 10, but no sign of that (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. V of Turkey to add Mongolian, surpassing BBC ON THE AIR IN 35 LANGUAGES, VOICE OF TURKEY SET TO REACH MONGOLIA SOON http://www.todayszaman.com/news-277478-on-the-air-in-35-languages-voice-of-turkey-set-to-reach-mongolia-soon.html (via Kevin Redding, Crump, April 15, ABDX via DXLD) Area of Islamic traditions influence from the south in Kazakhstan into Mongolia, Ölgiy Ulgii westernmost area recently. 89% of inhabitants are Islamic (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE [and non]. RUS/CIS/UKR, DRM MW negotiations, now result in changes on ITU Genève mediumwave list of Febr 7th / April 3rd: 648 Brovary 100day 10night, 205 m tall mast 648 Dokuchaievsk 50day 10night, 120 m 648 Krasne 200day 20night, 259 m 648 Luch 100day 10night, 128 m 648 Oktiabrske (ex Simferopol) 150kW, 220 m 648 Taranivka (ex Charkov) 100 kW, 220 m 810 Brovary (ex Dnipropetrovsk 50kW) 100day 10night, 205 m 972 Dokuchaievsk ex 50, now 10 kW. 972 Oktiabrske 972 Taranivka ex100 kW, now 10 kW. 1215 Yalta Crimea (ex 1539) 50 kW, 109 m 1242 Donetsk 30kW, 150 m 1242 Kholmy 5kW, 152 m 1242 Krasne 200kW, 150 m 1242 Kyiv 150kW, 150 m 1242 Odessa 30kW, 150 m 1242 Pervomaisk 7kW, 152 m 1242 Pershotravensk 10kW, 152 m 1242 Simferopol 50kW, 152 m 1242 Starobilsk 7kW, 152 m 1242 Taranivka 100kW, 150 m 1242 Tiachiv 1242 Volochisk 50kW, 150 m 1404 Lutsk (ex 1170) 50kW. 190 m (BCDX 18 April via DXLD) So which of those are not in Ukraine? We are not familiar with all those cities (gh, DXLD) ** UKRAINE. On April 9, 2012. In 1377 kHz pandemonium. Today for the first time identified the Radio Khvylya from Vinnytsia - the former frequency 873 kHz. Heard in the evening fairly steadily, listen to the transfer of about Ella Fitzgerald. Noise from VOR (Gavar) good shall be resolved ferrite antenna. And yesterday, too in the evening there was heard Radio Nikolaev. The French almost did not interfere. In 1600 began to transfer the call sign of the TWR, and allegedly VOR in Farsi continued his work. In General, there is something to understand (Alexander Egorov, Kyiv, Ukraine / "deneb-radio-dx" & "open_dx", via RusDX April 15 via DXLD) Strange, Sergey Panasyuk from Vinnitsa in a personal letter announced that the station for nearly a week working on 1377 kHz (Aleksandr Diadischev, Ukraine / "open_dx", ibid.) I also observed this phenomenon of the 5-th of April. As it turned out - this is the cross-modulation of the transmitter in Gavar. Call sign of the TWR is transmitted from 1600 to AC 1612 UT on 864 kHz. This signal is superimposed on the VOR-Farsi in 1377 kHz. Also, more weakly, this mixture of signals can be heard on 1359 kHz. VOR at 1395 kHz is almost clear, but if you listen, you can also hear the call sign of the TWR. After 1612 music, which is transmitted to 864 kHz, also can be heard on the 1377 (Jaroslav Derevyagin, Odessa, Ukraine / "open_dx", ibid.) ** U K [and non]. 17510, April 13 at 1258, B-B-C- chimes, very poor signal. Preceding 1300-1330 Uzbek, 300 kW, 57 degrees via CYPRUS. And thus no doubt about to be hit by ChiCom jamming to prevent any Turkic- language speakers dentro-China from being corrupted. BTW, when did the Cyprus relay resume full operations, if it ever did, following the power plant explosion a few months ago? 9915, April 13 at 0539, Arabic with crackle imposed, a lot like we hear on 15435 BSKSA around 1500, but this must be BBCWS. HFCC shows overlapping sites; does this mean either-or, or are they really running two at once? No echoes heard. 03-04 Cyprus at 173 degrees 04-06 Woofferton at 140 05-06 Skelton at 180 Also in the evenings doubling up on 9915: 18-21 Cyprus at 280, plus Skelton at 125 9440, April 16 at 0528, B-B-C- chimes, 0529 ``no programming on this channel`` announcement twice, referring us to website, but then cut to ``Salaam Aleikum`` and opening in non-Arabic. It`s Hausa via Woofferton. 15490, April 16 at 0714, good signal, one of best on band, in French, news about Africa such as Guinea-Bissau, RD Congo, etc. IDs as ``BBC Afrique`` but with the BBC pronounced as in English, not French! What`s with that? Both anchors and correspondents have to say it that way. I recall that before they abolished Spanish, it was OK to pronounce BBC the Spanish way. This semihour is 250 kW, 317 degrees from SOUTH AFRICA; earlier French semihours on 15490 are via Cyprus, Seychelles. 15105, April 17 at 0602, BBCWS, fair signal this hour only, 170 degrees from Woofferton, better than Nigeria 15120. Deep-voiced newscaster with peculiar not exactly African accent we often hear on BBC; also a het (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also ISRAEL [and non] ** U K. BBC WORLD SERVICE OUTPUT SET TO BE HIT BY STRIKE BECTU 11 April 2012 http://www.bectu.org.uk/news/1503 BBC staff working in the Network Operations Centre based in Bush House and Broadcasting House, London, are to take strike action starting this coming Sunday 15 April. The action will start at 15.00 on Sunday 15 April and will continue until 21.00 on Monday 16 April and will affect the transmission of programmes by the World Service. Staff in Network Operations, who are represented by BECTU, are challenging the BBC's refusal to allow them to join a defined benefits pension scheme following the transfer of their employment with Babcock to the BBC. Several members of staff were previously employed by the BBC. Commenting on the dispute, supervisory official, Helen Ryan said: "This is a classic case of staff pension provision being disrupted by contracting out. When these staff were transferred out of the BBC in 1997, the BBC backed their demands for continuing membership of a final salary scheme. Now, 15 years on, the BBC wants to wash its hands of its responsibilities to deal with the disruption to pension provision which these staff face. "BBC management refused to allow these staff to join CAB2011 when the scheme was still open. The attitude of BBC management to this situation is simply not credible and the coming strike action is the direct result of their refusal to negotiate." BECTU members at the Network Operations Centre voted unanimously last month to back the call for strike action (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) BBC WORLD SERVICE FACES DISRUPTION DUE TO BECTU STRIKE ATV Today By Mike Watkins 14 April 2012 http://www.atvtoday.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4380:bbc-world-service-faces-disruption-due-to-bectu-strike&catid=1:tv-media&Itemid=3 BECTU members in the Bush House Network Operations Centre of the BBC voted last month to strike over their future pension arrangements, the strike will take place this weekend. Union members working in the BBC World Service department of the Network Operations Centre will strike this weekend with the possibility that the strike action may effect [sic] programme output. The BBC employ 15 staff members in the concerned department, however not all are BECTU members. Those going on strike will not work from 3pm on Sunday through to 9pm on Monday. The World Service staff are taking action after the corporation failed to restore the staff to a pension scheme after they returned into BBC employment last December. Bectu supervisory official, Helen Ryan says of the action, “This is a classic case of staff pension provision being disrupted by contracting out. The attitude of BBC management to this situation is simply not credible and the coming strike action is the direct result of their refusal to negotiate.” For some employees it was a return to BBC employment, as they had worked for the corporation before, and up to, 1997 when the World Service transmission operations were privatised and taken on by Babcock Communications Ltd. At that time the transferring workers retained their access to a final salary pension scheme, at the insistence of the BBC. This time after transferring from Babcock to the BBC the workers were not offered membership of a BBC pension scheme, only a Lifeplan defined contribution scheme. “We are disappointed that Bectu members have opted to take strike action. The BBC's position is consistent with both TUPE regulations and previous reverse TUPE situations .... It would set an unsustainable precedent to allow people transferring into the BBC to enter pension schemes, which are now closed, to new members. “Our priority now is to deliver scheduled services to audiences.” A BBC spokesperson said. BBC World Service is the beeb's international radio broadcaster. It aims to provide impartial news, reports and analysis in English and 27 other languages. It is available to listen to a variety of platforms across the world including online, satellite and cable, AM, FM, shortwave and digital radio (via Mike Terry, April 15, dxldyg via DXLD) Today at 1830-1900 UT slot >no< strike noted so far. Re-shuffled Aoki List of April 3rd for different browsing: sorted by Remarks, ADM, UTC column and checked all UK and foreign BBC/BAB relay sites... 73 wolfy (Wolfgang Büschel, April 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. BBC REDUNDANCY PAYMENTS COST ALMOST £277M IN SEVEN YEARS Media Guardian 17 April 2012 Nearly 6,000 staff received average of £46,200 from March 2005 to February 2012, with highest individual payout £949,000. Full article here http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/apr/17/bbc-redundancy-payments?CMP=twt_fd (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U K. BBC WS STATE TIME PIPS "HAVE BEEN LATE FOR AT LEAST 25 YEARS" 18 April 2012 I have been sent this fascinating correspondence from Herbert Visser, he wrote to the BBC as follows (and their reply is below): Dejan Calovski Audience Relations BBC World Service I was wondering why BBC Worldservice remains to broadcast 5 beeps at the top of each hour? It made sense when you were still on AM648 (and the shortwave fq's) as it gave the exact time. But now that in large parts of the world you're only digitally available, there's always a delay of seconds up to even minutes before the audio reaches the listener. I'd suggest it's time to find an alternative for the beeps at the TOTH. Something that's not giving us 'the exact time'. Best wishes, Herbert Visser. Dear Herbert, Thank you for your e-mail. Good question that many of here at the World Service have 'taken for granted' as the beeps seem to have been with us forever. The explanation I received after consulting/asking different relevant departments is that the six (not 5) pips of the Greenwich Time Signal are accurate when they leave us. As you point out however, there are now a number of delays introduced into the path by digital Code-Decode cycles which we're not able to control. This means that by the time the pips are received they may be up to 0.7 seconds late. This should be the maximum delay within the BBC's own transmission network. No one has used the pips for accurate timing for many years (they have been late for at least 25 years, by the way!) but they do form part of the BBC's top-of-the-hour branding, hence their retention. Longer delays due to the internet are not taken into account - and never used for broadcast. Ideally, the pips should not find their way here, but they do. But almost everybody recognises that streamed audio is often delayed. I hope the above if of explanation/assistance. Best regards, Dejan Calovski, Audience Relations, BBC World Service (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DXLD) There you go! ``Branding`` matters, accuracy does not (gh, DXLD) Even the time pips on the UK based SW transmitters are up to a second late, due to the digital audio distribution chain. Stick to the various standard time stations for accuracy! (Steve Luce, Houston, Texas, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Continued at: WORLD OF HOROLOGY ** U K [non]. 6095 - Publicized special broadcast via Wooferton [sic] of Transport Radio 10-11 UT has not been heard over the past 2 mornings here on the East Coast of USA. I have not seen any reports of this being heard. Has anyone actually heard this broadcast? Scheduled for April 17-21. Conditions have been less than ideal on 49 meters in local mornings lately and I'm only able to listen for about 5 minutes as I than have to leave for work. Just curious at this point (Stephen Wood, Harwich, MA, April 18, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) You could hardly expect to hear anything from Europe on 49m several hours after their sunrise. Where did you get Woofferton? HFCC shows Wertachtal at 09-17 UT, but Sat & Sun only (gh, DXLD) I've observed it opening with a fair signal at 1000 UT both today and yesterday (here in the UK), with programming in parallel with their web stream at http://transportradio.nl (David Kernick, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Really via Woofferton GB site? 6095 kHz was used by M&B Wertachtal in the past, as 100 kW on #930 Quadrant antenna, which is a more non- directional antenna for Europe, but no curtain directional to MA-USA. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) Designation: HQ n/h n = number of elements stacked above the other h = height of dipoles above the ground in wavelength The design frequency is entered in a separate field of the requirement. Antenna Code Antenna Definition 930 HQ2/0.3 At present 1245 UT in southern Germany at S=9+15 dB signal. (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) ** U S A. 7811-USB, April 13 at 0544-0546, AFN with Jim Hightower commentary on bank gouging. Not posted yet on his website, but should soon appear at http://jimhightower.com/node/7714 Oooh, during the time I was compiling this report, it did appear, ``Snarling Banker`` with link to a significant activist website he usually closes with: http://www.moveyourmoneyproject.org/ Same commentary reheard at 1506 UT Friday on KRZA webcast (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS TO MEET ON APRIL 20 Washington, D.C., April 17, 2012 — The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) will meet on Friday, April 20 at the headquarters of Radio and TV Marti in Miami, Florida. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. The Board will discuss the status of the consolidation plan for BBG- sponsored grantees; the implementation of the Governors’ long-term strategy; and proposed amendments to BBG By-Laws, along with other matters from the Governance Committee’s March meeting. In addition, the Board will receive a budget update and hear reports from the International Broadcasting Bureau Director and BBG broadcast executives regarding agency activities and programming coverage. The public may attend this meeting as seating capacity allows. Members of the public wishing to attend in person must register at http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=357&c=3110031&l=4774&ctl=419C6F9:BF6AE9FCB50C39528CC5AED63715A293022F8F9055150E05& by 10:00 a.m. on April 19. This meeting is also available for public observation via streamed webcast, both live and on-demand, on the BBG’s public website at http://www.bbg.gov Special Event Live Links Windows Media Broadband Live Link: http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=357&c=3110031&l=4774&ctl=419C6FB:BF6AE9FCB50C39528CC5AED63715A293022F8F9055150E05& Windows Media Dialup Live Link: http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=357&c=3110031&l=4774&ctl=419C6FC:BF6AE9FCB50C39528CC5AED63715A293022F8F9055150E05& Windows Media Audio Live Link: http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=357&c=3110031&l=4774&ctl=419C6FD:BF6AE9FCB50C39528CC5AED63715A293022F8F9055150E05& Special Event On Demand Links Windows Media Broadband On Demand Link: http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=357&c=3110031&l=4774&ctl=419C6FE:BF6AE9FCB50C39528CC5AED63715A293022F8F9055150E05& Windows Media Dialup On Demand Link: http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=357&c=3110031&l=4774&ctl=419C6FF:BF6AE9FCB50C39528CC5AED63715A293022F8F9055150E05& Windows Media Audio On Demand Link: http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=357&c=3110031&l=4774&ctl=419C700:BF6AE9FCB50C39528CC5AED63715A293022F8F9055150E05& MP3 Audio On Demand Link: http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=357&c=3110031&l=4774&ctl=419C701:BF6AE9FCB50C39528CC5AED63715A293022F8F9055150E05& If you have questions about this E-mail newsletter send us an e-mail. pubaff@bbg.gov BBG | 330 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington DC 20237 (via Clara Listensprechen, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. BBG SHORTWAVE: SORTING THE FACT FROM THE FICTION Interesting post from the BBG Strategy website; tries to respond to most of the criticism: http://tinyurl.com/cllaeok (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, April 12, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks, Alokesh, for drawing our attention to this interesting piece. The BBG is often criticised, but I think this article puts its case very well. Its arguments may not be welcome by some in this yg, but the facts are plain. Even in much of Africa, shortwave is now a fast-fading medium. The BBG correctly identifies Nigeria and Ethiopia as among the few countries on the continent where SW still has a mass audience - and that's only because both countries have restrictions on local FM stations relaying foreign broadcasters. As soon as people can hear the BBC, RFI, VOA, etc on FM, they stop listening to SW. And don't forget that in much of the world, radio is now a largely- entertainment medium, if indeed anyone listens at all. Look at that statistic for China - only 8 per cent of people there listen to any sort of radio in a typical week. And no doubt that will mostly be to an FM music station. This should not stop us enjoying the SW hobby, but we shouldn't blind ourselves to this global trend (Chris Greenway, UK, April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, yes, it is nice to see that the BBG even bothers to answer critics, which is something most of the “big boys” who have given up (or virtually so) SW broadcasting don’t feel much of a need to do. But the BBG polemic’s title, sorting fact from fiction, is gilding the lily... rather significantly overstating its case, pretending that partial “fact” or questionable “fact” is really fact-fact. Perhaps this not surprisingly, since in our society, polls are often treated as facts. And while polling is reasonably, and very broadly accurate in developed countries like the US, polling is considerably LESS than fact in emerging areas, those exact areas where SW and other radio do better than other more “modern” delivery systems. BBG rightly challenges the approach of religious SW broadcasters, one of only two current supporters/funders of extensive SW broadcasting (the other being China, and more on that a bit later) BBG says to religious broadcasters, basically, show us your numbers. The religious broadcasters essentially reply, we don’t need numbers, we have faith. I think BOTH are acting on the basis of faith – the BBG on the faith that its audience measurement numbers are fact, when the likelihood is at those numbers are probably least accurate in the least developed areas of the world, where getting the BBG’s message would seem to be most critical. The other remaining big player, as BBG recognizes, is China, willing to invest 6-8 billion dollars. Why? Here the BBG argument is less persuasive in its argument. BBG asks Why China? It offers two supposed answers. 1. China’s SW money is being spent in a glorified jamming attempt. 2. Its money is being spent because it has unlimited amounts of money so, no reason, it just can. Neither is much of an argument. BBG claims its polling shows few people in China listen to the radio. If that’s the case, why does it make sense to spend $6-8 billion to jam outside radio that the Chinese are aren’t listening to anyway? I think most DXers realize that much of China’s SW money is being spent to reach audiences OUTSIDE China, be they ethnic Chinese, or English speakers, or whichever Third World peoples China has an economic and political interest in reaching. This BBG argument really is more a wail that they (the Chinese) have the money to do so and we don’t. It’s the have-nots complaining about the haves by saying, well they’re just wasting money anyway. And that is argument No. 2. These poor Chinese have more money than brains. Kind of wishful thinking, eh. BBG does recognize there are significant areas where SW reaches important audiences and other platforms do not. So, BBG says it hasn’t given up on SW because, yes, there will be times when we need it. But that, minimally, requires having and keeping the SW transmitting capabilities “against the day...” But VOA keeps cutting back on its own SW delivery platforms. The assumption is that in time of need, and for those few, limited continuing cases, we’ll just rent somebody else’s equipment. OK as a plan? Maybe not so --- for as we are seeing, other countries also are giving up the transmitters too, most recently, Canada. Well then, there are private SW platforms to rent --- But they already are struggling to find clients and increasingly they themselves are disappearing. So where is this insurance policy of being able to broadcast on SW in urgent time of need, or to reach otherwise unreadable people? Eventually, the available SW transmitters just won’t be there when needed. So BBG’s seemingly reasoned attempt to separate “fact from fiction” is really buying into another brand of fiction, or if not truly fiction, then wishful thinking. It is really just a plaint that since we can’t pry the money out of our government, we will push the self- justification -- we’re spending our money wisely, and the Chinese and Bible broadcasters are not. dnj (Don Jensen, Kenosha WI, NASWA yg via DXLD) SHORTWAVE IS NOT A HOT TOPIC, BBG STRATEGISTS ARE By BBGWatcher on 15 April 2012 --- BBG Watch Commentary reflecting contributions from several individuals. http://www.usgbroadcasts.com/bbgwatch/2012/04/15/shortwave-is-not-a-hot-topic-bbg-strategists-are/#comments Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) strategists have engaged in a bit of propaganda in trying to frame the legitimate debate on their competency and their strategy by focusing the discussion on the issue of shortwave broadcasts and portraying all their critics as shortwave radio dinosaurs. BBG Shortwave: Sorting The Fact From The Fiction Sorry to say but most of the criticism of BBG strategists and their ideas have little to do with shortwave broadcasting. When looking at these opening statements from the BBG blog post, only parts of them are true: The BBG Strategy Blog takes a look shortwave, one of the hottest topics in U.S. international broadcasting [NOT TRUE]: Once the only tool, shortwave is now just one of many in the distribution toolbox. [TRUE but no one disputes that] But when, where, and how much the BBG should use SW has become a hot topic… [NOT TRUE] Shortwave. It’s among the most hotly debated topics inside and outside the BBG. [NOT TRUE] Once the single go-to method of distribution, the medium is now just one of many tools employed by BBG broadcasters. [TRUE, but no one disputes that] Sorry to disappoint BBG strategists, but shortwave is NOT a hot topic. The hottest topic right now is their plan to eliminate Voice of America radio broadcasts to Tibet and to close down the VOA Cantonese Service: shortwave radio, satellite television, and Internet. Last year, it was their plan to kill all VOA Mandarin radio and television. That BBG plan was killed in unanimous bipartisan votes in Congress. Think of the impact of the latest proposal to deprive Tibetan Buddhist monks and others of VOA Tibetan radio broadcasts, which NPR reports are being listened to secretly, while Tibetans are self-immolating to shock the conscience of the world and the Chinese government is increasing arrests and repression. The idea to end these broadcasts came from BBG strategists. The hot topic is not shortwave per se, although it is part of it; it is the judgement and the understanding of the mission on the part of BBG strategists. Add to this their continued insistence on eliminating broadcasting services while keeping their own jobs and expanding their bureaucratic operations and outside contracting. Isn’t there an inherent conflict of interest in their program cutting proposals? Another hot topic is the continued elimination of the Voice of America brand-name. Yet another hot topic is their understanding of whom U.S.-funded international broadcasts and new media programs should serve and to what purpose. Should these programs target mass audiences or try to serve those who are most in need of hard-hitting uncensored news? What compromises should the BBG make vis-à-vis repressive regimes to achieve a mass audience through local distribution of its programs? Should BBG broadcasters accept requests from BBG strategists and consultants not to call the Russian attack on Georgia “an invasion” and to make their programs “less hostile” to various regimes because audience research clearly shows — or so they claim — that audiences don’t like such strong on-air criticism? These are some of the hot topics rather than shortwave. Contrary to what the BBG article is trying to convey, critics of BBG strategists don’t think shortwave is the ultimate answer for U.S. international broadcasting. The real debate is not about shortwave at all. It is about broadcasting, both radio and television, and about serving disenfranchised and repressed groups-audiences, many living in great poverty. The debate is also about U.S. national security interests and the ability of the BBG to respond to crises and inevitable cyber attacks and Internet censorship. Such a response cannot be done without some secure shortwave capability. That’s where shortwave comes in. But the U.S. government cannot respond to major crises abroad, address people in war zones and to communicate with the most oppressed and the poorest groups without having broadcasting in the first place. So the debate is primarily about strategy, mission and preserving broadcasting. Only secondarily, it is about preserving some shortwave capability where it is needed or may be needed. Radio/TV broadcasting backed up with some shortwave capability is a strategic weapon against countries like China and Russia. So is the Voice of America radio and television brand-name. You don’t just give up such an asset for nothing. You don’t betray your loyal audiences. If a radio broadcasting service is closed down, you can’t just resurrect it overnight. Killing broadcasting by USG sends a strong strategic signal of US indifference and weakness. Ultimately, the multi-platform, multi-media delivery is what the BBG needs if it wants to have an effective strategic weapon against undemocratic regimes. You can’t go for a mass audience in such countries because you can’t get it without seriously compromising your message. Radio/TV broadcasts, but particularly radio, insure that we stay on the message. This also means content for a far better, news-oriented online presence. Otherwise, the whole BBG should just produce English lessons with high school bathroom humor. They may be creative and funny and pass the censors in China. It’s fine to have them if you also have something else. The same with program delivery: you can’t rely on just one platform. Then, we can get into the argument whether Voice of America should only produce online entertainment while the surrogates produce real radio news. This is what BBG strategists are pushing for some of the most strategically important VOA services while they want to eliminate completely many others. This is against the law and intent of Congress. The Voice of America cannot be just a voice of Hollywood. The law clearly states that VOA must represent all of America and the whole spectrum of American opinions. If BBG strategists want the surrogate broadcasters to represent the United States, they should ask the Congress for permission and perhaps be told that the surrogate broadcasters should change their names to Voice of America. Their article is intellectually dishonest because by trying to limit the debate to shortwave only it hides the fact that BBG strategists want to eliminate the Voice of America radio and television brand-name in China, Russia and in many other countries around the world. This “strategy” distorts America’s image and is against the law which established the VOA Charter. The article also hides the tremendous waste of U.S. taxpayers’ money through the plan designed to divert government resources from producing programs to hiring more bureaucrats and contractors. This is how the debate needs to be framed. Reducing it to just shortwave is a trick designed to make BBG critics look like dinosaurs. Well, it’s not going to work. People are not so stupid not to be able to see through a bit of propaganda that is just a bit too clever to be credible. Shortwave is not a hot topic. The hot topic are BBG strategists themselves. They are the strategic dinosaurs. And let us not forget this little fact. In the Office of Personnel Management government-wide surveys, BBG employee rate the management team, which includes BBG strategists, as the worst managers among all federal agencies in terms of leadership and management knowledge. Is there anything else than this little fact that would better explain the recommendation these strategists made to BBG members to end VOA shortwave radio broadcasts to Tibet and to fire seven VOA Tibetan journalists as Tibetans in Tibet are setting themselves on fire? Research does show that VOA Tibetan television program has a slightly bigger reach than radio. But that is in Nepal where private satellite dishes are not banned and the Internet is not censored as it is in Tibet and China. So what were these strategists thinking? There is a hot topic. By the way, the BBG blog post is dated April 12, 2012, and yet the comments on the post are closed. We wonder why. May be the recent wave of repression in Tibet in China and the outrage in America and around the world have made BBG strategists slightly insecure. On the other hand, they have never been known for lacking confidence in their abilities and judgement (via DXLD) SIGN A PETITION TO SAVE VOICE OF AMERICA to TIBET, CHINA and OTHER NATIONS WITHOUT FREE MEDIA http://www.change.org/petitions/save-voice-of-america-radio-to-tibet [I was about to sign until I looked at their privacy policy --- gh] Comment: Quo Vadis says, 16 April 12, 3:39am BBG strategists have carved out a disastrous future for U.S. international broadcasting. Ignoring shortwave radio capabilities, they have also chosen, in their shortsightedness, to ignore the possibilities of digital shortwave in contrast to many other nations including China, Russia, and Australia. Ultimately, this is a power grab. Under the guise of reorganization and a Reduction-in-Force, their actual plan is to transfer the functions of the federal government broadcasting entities under VOA and Radio/TV Marti to the grantee organizations. This would give them carte blanche in hiring and firing contractors with no oversight from the Congress. Many believe that their ultimate purpose is to de-federalize VOA and Radio/TV Marti without official congressional approval. For an honest overview of shortwave in China, listen to an interview with Asia radio expert, Keith Perron, stationed in Taiwan, who spoke by remote to a convention of SWL (shortwave listeners, DXers) in Plymouth PA in March 2011 as part of the Shortwave Shindig. His remarks re: the BBG decision to cut shortwave broadcasts to China last year are perceptive and pungent and pertinent to the present discussions about the utilization of shortwave by the Agency. Keith Perron interview: http://vimeo.com/20948612 (via WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DXLD) This is the time for an all-out request to the SWL members and the DXers to bombard the Congress with the demand NOT to cut shortwave broadcasting. This is Armageddon. If the BBG "strategists" succeed in this one, it's all over. Somehow we should get on the blogs of SWL, DX clubs and http://www.naswa.net/ to start up a campaign for them to contact their representatives in Congress and the Senate. This takes the issue out beyond the Beltway. We don't need a sample letter. The guys/gals in the SWL movement know the strategic reasons for keeping shortwave on the air. We can also tie in reviving the Greenville transmitter pointing out the necessity to broadcast to Venezuela since Chavez has shut down his domestic as well as foreign broadcasts as he continues his anti- American rants with no contradictions. Other countries in Latin America are also following the Chavez/Castro model and those countries are right in our backyard. China & Iran are expanding their spheres of influences in Latin America as well (a union source, via DXLD) As a shortwave listener for nearly a half-century, I am saddened to see the reduction of shortwave broadcasting, especially by US international broadcasters. As an international broadcasting audience research analyst, however, I see much data showing a decline in the number of of people owning and and listening to shortwave radios. Even in rural areas, audiences are moving to FM radio, television, and mobile phones. US international broadcasting should employ, if possible, the media preferred by its target audiences. If access to those media are denied in the target country, then the use of more robust but less popular media is necessary. Shortwave can be jammed, but it still offers the most physical resistance to interdiction of any medium available to international broadcasting. New digital modes allow text to be transmitted very efficiently via shortwave, requiring much less power than needed for voice. Shortwave could therefore be an alternative means of delivery when the internet is blocked. (On the subject of internet blocking, see previous posts re Iran and China.) For future emergencies, when the internet, mobile networks, cable television, and other popular forms of communication will be disrupted, the United States should maintain an interagency global network of shortwave transmitters. These can be used by US international broadcasting to reach key target countries, by the State Department to reach Americans abroad and for public diplomacy tasks, and by the military for information operations and other purposes. The output of each agency would remain separate. Their functions would not be intermingled. The shortwave transmitter network would operate as a common carrier (Kim Andrew Elliott, kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) Description of VOA as "a propaganda tool" is a Montreal Gazette quote of the week. Posted: 14 Apr 2012 Montreal Gazette, 14 Apr 2012, "7 Quotes -- Things they said in Montreal this week": "'It was never a propaganda tool, like the Voice of America.' - Sheldon Harvey, president of the Canadian International DX Club, about impending demise of Radio-Canada International's shortwave radio service." See previous post about same subject. During its 70 years, VOA has not been perfect, but, especially in the post-Cold War years, it has taken seriously its statutory requirement to provide accurate and objective news. As an experienced shortwave listener, Sheldon is familiar with other international radio stations, past and present, that would much more fittingly be called "propaganda tool." This does demonstrate that "propaganda" is the worst thing an international broadcasting effort can be called. It reminds international broadcasters of the need to commit to credibility, both in in stated mission and in actual practice. Note that Sky News Arabia says that it is headed for its launch on 6 May "with an independent editorial mandate at the heart of everything we do." Whether the channel lives up to that mandate, it at least made the effort to proclaim that independence as its guiding principle (Kim Andrew Elliott, kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. WITH THE HELP OF END-OF-YEAR FUNDS, RADIO FREE ASIA IS INCREASINGLY BECOMING TELEVISION FREE ASIA. Posted: 12 Apr 2012 Radio World, 10 Apr 2012, Laura Mir: "Radio Free Asia found that a relatively small amount of money can be applied creatively to develop a quality video product. Now it has an impressive studio space and a multi-disciplined staff that can create Web content for www.rfa.org. Gordon Burnett, production engineer III, and AJ Janitschek, director of program and operations support, have been working on bringing video services to RFA in Washington since their purchase of a Canon GL1 DV mini camcorder in 2000. ... The technology team at RFA knew that the amount of video being posted online was on the increase. Burnett was attracted by the medium’s capacity 'to retain visitors to well-designed websites and its ability to tell stories in ways that audio alone could not.' The individual language services of RFA were also beginning to pick up on the importance of adding value to their online content. ... Funding was the biggest roadblock. Radio Free Asia is a U.S.- government funded, non-profit organization operated by the Broadcasting Board of Governors. 'None of these [video expenditures] were a line item in our budget. When the opportunity presented itself, end-of-year funds, etc., and funds were available, we got in line and stated our case,' said Burnett. Little by little the money to purchase equipment did come. Cameras, teleprompters, lighting ensued. Slowly the video studio acquired the necessary gear to produce the Vietnamese and other language shows." (kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) The resourcefulness of the RFA engineers is admirable. Nevertheless, funding would be less of a roadblock if the United States had one entity broadcasting to East Asia rather than two. So now RFA has cameras, teleprompters, and lighting to compete with VOA's cameras, teleprompters, and lighting, for broadcasts to the same countries, in the same languages, covering much of the same news. This story says more about US international broadcasting, and its "many brands," than the Radio World reporter realized (Kim Andrew Elliott, ibid.) ** U S A [non]. 9490, April 14 at 1247, sounds like praise music, but surely not, good signal with rolling fades, 1252 Korean announcement, so despite creeping Christianity in S Korea, it must be secular VOA as scheduled 12-13, but contradictory info on site: latest HFCC and EiBi say Tinian; Aoki says Thailand; no Cuban jamming audible against non- broadcast of R. República via Sackville at this hour. 9610, April 14 at 1347, jazz and soon the VOA DJ in `Jazz America`, fair signal and in the clear, 3 sex behind 12150 [HFCC: Tinang]. No longer audible on 9760, ceded to CRI, where the two had been colliding so far in A-12, a failure of coordination, as we have been signaling. Latest HFCC as of April 13 shows 9760 IBB Tinian Sat & Sun at 13-14 expired 3 April, yet doesn`t have IBB at any time on 9610, but it was beckoning as available 12-14 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Frequency change of Voice of America: 1330-1430 NF 11565 IRA 250 kW / 073 deg to SEAs, ex 11540*in Khmer 1600-1700 NF 9400 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg to CeAs, ex 9435 in Georgian * to avoid WYFR Family Radio in English via Hu Wei, Taiwan (DX Re Mix News 16 April via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Frequency changes of Radio Liberty: 1400-1500 NF 12025 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg to CeAs, ex 11730 in Turkmen 1500-1600 NF 12025 LAM 100 kW / 075 deg to CeAs, ex 9830 in Turkmen 1500-1600 NF 9400 BIB 100 kW / 088 deg to CeAs, ex 12025 in Azeri (DX Re Mix News 16 April via DXLD) ** U S A. Two New SW Stations --- Glenn, Today the FCC published a list of applications accepted for international broadcast station construxion permits, to Aurora Communications in Ninilchik AK, the organization you covered in DXLD 2-122, August 1, 2002; and to the International Fellowship of Churches, Inc. in Norco, CA. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-313565A1.pdf Cheers, (Benn Kobb, DC, April 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is the very first step; it remains to be seen if CPs will be issued (gh, DXLD) Viz.: Report No. IHF-00112 Friday April 13, 2012 re: Applications Accepted For Filing International High Frequency The applications listed herein have been found, upon initial review, to be acceptable for filing. The Commission reserves the right to return any of the applications if, upon further examination, it is determined they are defective and not in conformance with the Commission's Rules and Regulations and its Policies. For more information concerning this Notice, contact Tom Lucey at 418- 2161; Thomas.Lucey@fcc.gov; TTY 202-418-2555. Note: At present, technical data regarding these applications is not available via internet reports. However, all IBFS technical data may be downloaded in a database format from the following web location: http://www.fcc.gov/oet/info/database/fadb.html (via DXLD) Hi Glen[n], Some technical info on the two new applications: IHF-C/P-20120302, Application for new station from International Fellowship of Churches. Location: Lander County, NV, 40.35.53 N, 116.36.27 W. One 50 kW and one 100 kW transmitters. Four rhombic antennas: 40, 108, 138 and 313 degrees. IHF -C/P-20120306-00004, Application for new station from Aurora Communications Int. Location: Ninilchik, AK, 60.06.37 N, 151.34.46 W. One 250 kW transmitter. One curtain antenna: 330 degrees with slews at 305 and 355 degrees. Regards, (Tom Lucey, FCC, April 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) While Norco is between Ontario and Riverside in southern CA, the transmitter site is nowhere near there --- way off in a VERY remote part of north-central Nevada, near I-80 exit 254, nearby town Crescent Valley, and near Mr Lewis in the Shoshone Range. Ninilchik is right up the road from Anchor Point, Alaska (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) SEE ALASKA! ** U S A. 25990, 0128, KLIF Dallas Texas Studio to Transmitter Link in NFM mode with ‘Hire a Hubby’ advert, then Healthline talkshow. At 0200 ident for “Talkradio 5-70 KLIF”, fair on peaks. WBAP Fort Worth 25910 also audible this day – 12/3 (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, (Northland), New Zealand, AOR7030+, EWEs to North, Central & South America 100m BOG to NE, and Alpha Delta Sloper antennas, NZ DX Times via DXLD) These are not studio-transmitter links. Studio audio is certainly fed to each transmitter by much better means, like 900 MHz band linx or hard-wired (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. 9955, April 12 at 0330-0400, nothing audible but wall-of-noise jamming, during the first scheduled SW broadcast of WORLD OF RADIO 1612, on WRMI. Tnx a lot, Arnie! Better luck maybe on some of the WRMI repeats: Sat 0800, 1500, 1730; Sun 0800, 1530, 1730; Mon 0500, 1130. Also unjammed: Thu 2100 on 9479 WTWW; UT Fri 0330v on 5050 WWRB; UT Sat 0100v-0135v on Area 51 via 5110-CUSB/LSB WBCQ; UT Sun 0400 on 5755 WWRB. Also on WRN via SiriusXM channel 120: Sat & Sun 1730, Sun 0830. WORLD OF RADIO 1612 monitoring: confirmed with usual excellent signal on WTWW 9479, Thursday April 12 at 2100; next airing presumed on reliable WWRB 5050 at 0330 UT Friday April 13. Thence: 0100v-0135v UT Saturday on Area 51 via WBCQ 5110v-CUSB/LSB; UT Sunday 0400 on WTWW 5755. And on WRMI 9955: Sat 0800, 1500, 1730, Sun 0800, 1530, 1730, Mon 0500, 1130. WORLD OF RADIO 1612 monitoring: 5110-CUSB/LSB, UT Saturday April 14, starts at 0133:30 or so, after some `(X -1)` on Area 51 via WBCQ. Larry Will says from now on, 0130 will be the nominal time for WOR, which means that if `AWWW` finishes sometime between 0100 and 0130, fill material will need to be inserted. As I was checking the end of WOR thru lightning crashes, at 0159 there seemed to be some music in the background. Not sure where that came from. Further WOR airings this weekend: WRMI 9955: Sat 1500, 1730, Sun 0800, 1530, 1730, Mon 0500, 1130. WTWW 5755: UT Sun 0400. WRN via SiriusXM channel 120: Sat & Sun 1730, Sun 0830. Full schedule including many more webcasts: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html WORLD OF RADIO 1612 monitoring: confirmed with excellent signal on 5755, WTWW, UT Sunday April 15 after 0400. Remaining WRMI 9955 repeats: Sunday 1530, 1730, Monday 0500, 1130. On HLR Germany 5980: Tuesday 0930. WORLD OF RADIO 1612 monitoring: April 16 at 0523, the 0500 UT Monday broadcast on WRMI 9955 is completely readable, if you want to put up with the pulse jamming at the rate of four per second. Tnx a lot, Arnie! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 7490, April 14 at 0538, open carrier, no doubt WBCQ as often happens inexplicably long after scheduled closing. 9330 modulating, not OC. 9330-CUSB, April 17 at 0557, WBCQ in dead air instead of Good Friends Radio Network religion. First time in a while now caught with no modulation (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 15610, WEWN Vandiver AL; 1950-2000+, 11-Apr; Call-in program; host talked about when Mother Angelica used to call the apostles "dodos" and said she eased up some in her old age, before she went to meet them. 1955 EWTN program spots & said they were changing target area, but to stay tuned. Went completely off at 1956 for a dekasesquisecond; back to dead air for about an icosasecond, into chanting to ToH ID as WEWN Birmingham AL, then EE EWTN Radio News Link.S30 peaks before & after change with some distortion throughout (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) ``went to meet them`` --- are you implying she died? Wikipedia says: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Angelica ``Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, PCPA (born Rita Antoinette Rizzo on April 20, 1923) is an American Roman Catholic nun who founded the Eternal Word Television Network. In 1944 she entered the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, a Franciscan religious order for women, as a postulant, and a year later she was admitted to the order as a novice. She went on to found a new house for the order in 1962 in Irondale, Alabama, where the EWTN is headquartered, and in 1996 she initiated the building of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady of the Angels monastery in Hanceville, Alabama. Mother Angelica hosted shows on EWTN until she suffered a stroke in 2001. As of 2012, Angelica is still living in the monastery. She is the second oldest nun. She participates in the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament a few hours a day at the shrine`` How does this handle-name stuff work? Is her legal name for secular purposes still Rita Antoinette Rizzo? If not, how would you alfabetize her, under, M or A? Where`s a surname?! Even British royals officially have a surname, Windsor. How about Herr Ratzinger? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not me; that's what the dude said (Harold Frodge, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9390, April 13 at 1315, WEWN missing from its scheduled English frequency, at last no longer blasting its spurs against adjacent Brother Scare on 9385 WWRB. The two Spanish frequencies 11550 and 12050 are on as usual. 1435 recheck, still no 9390 (and not back on 15610 either as in B-11), so BS with his own dire mañana predixions of doom are again untainted by papist QRM. 1502, 15610 is on with carrier, 1503 sign-on ``joining program in progress``. WEWN website still shows 9390; have they finally caught on that 5 kHz from another US SW station is not a good idea? If there`s a new frequency before 1500, it`s as yet unfound and unpublished. Or maybe it was off to abolish the spurs, having read my explanation of the cause and the fix? Don`t count on it! 15610 was too weak to evaluate them yet today. 9390, April 14 at 1240, WEWN is still missing from its initial A-12 English frequency at 11-15. During full bandscan 6-22 MHz never found any replacement, especially at other known WEWN channels. Now I see in the April 13 HFCC that 9390 has been deleted as if it never existed: about time, abutting another US station, 9385 WWRB. But nothing in HFCC to fill the 13-15 gap. The full frequency list has 11565 now at 11-13 to same CIRAF 43, 44 targets (China, not SE Asia as claimed), while the individual EWN schedule at HFCC has 11520 at 09-13. The Spanish frequencies on 25m, 11550, 12050 were barely audible before 13, so maybe one of those other channels was also on in English, but what about 13-15? WEWN`s own website schedule still shows 9390 at 11- 15. Meanwhile, Brother Scare on WWRB 9385 is freed from the squishy WEWN spurs and splatter from 9390 itself, but WWRB intermittent: 1240 not on, 1245 is on, 1303 off, 1323 on, April 14 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Frequency change of WEWN in English to SEAs from April 14: 1100-1300 NF 11520*EWN 250 kW / 355 deg, ex 11565 to avoid WHRI, re-ex 9390 [11520 open carrier was on +1349-1443* April 16 --- gh] 1300-1500 on 9390 EWN 250 kW / 355 deg to SEAs, cancelled for maintenance! [as we have already reported --- gh] *til 1200 co-ch WYFR Family Radio in Tagalog via Paochung, Taiwan! (DX Re Mix News 16 April via DXLD) 11520, April 15 at 0504, WEWN in English, and 11870 Spanish both with good signals unlike usually in the nightmiddle, but 7555 Spanish even better. 9390 still missing at 1406 yet still on their own website schedule; see THAILAND 11520, April 16 at 1349 strong open carrier, equivalent level to WEWN Spanish on 11550, and with squishy spurs on 12050. Still missing from 9390. Another giveaway it`s WEWN: the weak spurs at plus and minus 8 kHz from 11520, rather than usual closer to 9. Maybe they are attenuating, if not eliminating them? 11520 apparently where they are moving the English, except failing to modulate, finally cutting off at 1443* to retune transmitter to 15610 from 15. WEWN website schedule still claims to be on 9390 at 11-15. DX Mix News, Bulgaria April 16 says [as above]: 15610, April 17 at 1306, WEWN English is back on here, instead of silence at this hour after having to quit 9390; and nothing but a dead carrier at 1349-1443* April 16 on 11520. I refreshed the WEWN SW schedule I have been consulting daily at http://www.ewtn.com/radio/freq.htm and it finally shifted to some different frequencies in the English lineup instead of 9390; trouble is, not what I heard! 09-13 11520 SE Asia 13-15 11615 SE Asia 15- 15610 Europe So are they going to be on 11615 or not? Maybe tomorrow. 15615, WEWN here April 18 at 1336, but why? Now they will be colliding with Firedrake (also to Asia!) after 1400, as I have been hearing that reliably. It`s there because of V. of Tibet on 15613. Sure enough, WEWN and Firedrake are mixing at 1427, and both are weaker than 15620 FEBC Bocaue in Javanese into Indonesian. Why leave 15610? There`s nothing else on 15610 at 13-15 per Aoki, EiBi, nor on 15605. (Only HFCC has VOR on 15605 at 13-16 from Moscow, presumably wooden.) I can still hear weak squishy spurs at plus/minus 9 kHz from 15615 tho they may have been somewhat attenuated. 15615 is in latest HFCC for WEWN at 13-15, claiming it started 25 March, which is a lie. (And still on 15610 at 15-24). Furthermore, the WEWN website http://www.ewtn.com/radio/freq.htm still shows 11615 at 13-15, not 15615. Typo?? Then I found a note from Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria: ``Frequency change of WEWN in English to SEAs from April 17: 1300-1500 NF 15615 EWN 250 kW / 355 deg, ex 15610 on April 16, re-ex 9390 Confirmed today April 18. 73! Ivo`` Then I sent him my report above to which he replied: ``Yes, very strong Firedrake (also to Asia) here in BUL from 1402 on 15615, but also strong signal from Voice of Tibet on 15613 from Dushanbe-Yangiyul. Shambles! Ivo`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. 17550, April 12 at *1830 tonal African language starts, mentioning Jesu Christi, good signal with some hum; soon I hear the Family Radio theme, so it`s some new relay for them. Asked Dan Elyea at WYFR and he confirms it`s Hausa via ASCENSION, 1830-1930, among schedule changes from April 6, ex-9685 via UAE. Also heard from WYFR about an Okeechobee frequency change coming April 16: 2200-0100 at 142 degrees, delete 15190, add 15745. So after several A-seasons colliding their own Portuguese with Brasil`s secular R. Inconfidência, which is licensed for 15190 and nowhere else on 19m, FR are *finally* resolving this issue. Looks like it took a new frequency manager who is paying more attention than the late Stan Leinwoll, but who? This also avoids any possibility of colliding with R. Africa if it ever stay on that late any more; it was on past 2137 April 12. See EQUATORIAL GUINEA 17585, April 13 at 1922 religious music, good signal, 1922 French. It`s YFR via ASCENSION at 1830-1930. This and new 17550 at same hour in Hausa since April 6 are now in HFCC as of April 13 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re 12-15 17550 unID: Yes, that is WYFR Family Radio in Hausa: 1830-1930 NF 17550 ASC 250 kW / 065 deg to WeAf, ex 1900-2000 on 9685 DHA 73! (Ivo Ivanov, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Upcoming frequency change of WYFR Family R. in Portuguese to Brasil: 2200-0100 NF 15745 YFR 100 kW / 142 deg, ex 15190 to avoid R. Inconfidência (DX Re Mix News 16 April via DXLD) As we have already reported; really -0045 (gh, DXLD) Frequency change of WYFR Family Radio in Burmese from Apr. 3: 1300- 1400 NF 17605 TAC 200 kW / 131 deg to SEAs, ex 12160 A-A Some BABCOCK changes from April 1: WYFR Family Radio changes: 1500-1600 NF 13690 DHA 250 kW / 105 deg to SoAs English, ex 11605 1830-1930 NF 17550 ASC 250 kW / 065 deg to WeAf Hausa, ex 19-20 on 9685 DHA (DX Re Mix News 16 April via DXLD) As we have already reported (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. 15550/USB, WJHR Milton FL (presumed); 2102, 11-Apr; Screaming preacher on raising children (Scream at them -- that always works.) SIO=353; seems to be slightly above 15550 (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 125 ft. bow-tie; 85 ft. RW & 180 ft. center-fed RW, All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time! DX LISTENING DIGEST) This has got to be the most boring SW station ever, even amongst those, if any, who like to listen to gospel huxters (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. 4045-USB, Caribbean Weather Station, talking with boat headed to Cat Island, another headed for the North Carolina Coast and on up to Chesapeake Bay, and the Gypsy Gypsy [sic] going from the Exumas to Nassau, 13 April (XM - Cedar Key - South Florida, NRD 525D - R8A, via Bob Wilkner, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** U S A. FCC updates station counts. Inside Radio April 13, 2012 There were 15,029 full-power radio stations on the air (in the US) as of March 31 according to an updated FCC count. The list includes 6,555 FMs, 4,762 AMs and another 3,712 noncommercial FMs. The number of FM translators and boosters totals 6,097 but that figure will jump over the next year as the FCC begins processing translator applications frozen since 2003 (via Mike Terry, April 13, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. More Dallas Changes --- Mike Huckabee is now on KLIF 570 according to their website from 11 AM to 1 PM [CDT = 16-18 UT]. Glenn Beck is out. No word on where Beck is landing (David R Block, TX, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WSCR, Chicago, Illinois, 670, full data letter in 219 days for English first-class mail report with a first-class stamp return postage and email folow-up to GM. QSL received 60 days after email follow-up. V/s Mark Nielsen, Chief Operator (Al Muick, Williamsport, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1120, FLORIDA, WNWF, Destin. 0027 April 14, 2012. First log of this 1 kWer here per a tip that this one is not only staying on 24/7 (it's a D1) but also not IDing and, picking up ESPN Sports Radio from Sirius-XM (presumably not authorized to do so). Fair-poor post- sunset with basketball and baseball roundups, “ESPN Sports Radio... on Sirius-XM” 0027 into commercial break (all from the S-XM feed), back to sports roundup 0030. Recheck at 0112 had KMOX dominating (Terry L Krueger, from the Clearwater, FL QTH with NRD-535, ICOM IC-R75 and Sangean PR-D5; 1 X roof dipole, 1 X room random wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WFNY 1440 test --- Mike Sleezer, owner of the AM, FM Translator, and LPTV called me and said he would be on the air May 26th from 0100 to 0200 EDT [0500-0600 UT]. Old rock and roll music, Morse Code IDs, etc. 5 kW non-directional on 1440 kHz. e-mail at wfny @ frontier.com Yes, he knows it`s a bad time of the year for an E/T but he's a long time friend and it won't be a problem to sked another this December and January or February or both. He related that he`s had phone calls to do another test and he was pleased with the results of the last one. I don't know the other web sites that this should be posted on so if someone can help me out and get this notice circulated I'd appreciate them doing so. As an aside, a couple of weeks ago he responded to an alarm at the XR site and found two young boys aged 14 and 16 had forced a door and had removed some equipment and piled it outside the door. The Police showed up 11 minutes later. This was at 11 am (wonder why they weren't in school). Since they are juveniles, not much will happen to them. I suggested to Mike that the FCC might be interested. Doesn't the FCC have laws about breaking into Broadcast sites? The station does not stream audio on a web site (Ron Musco, Poquonock, CT, April 15, NRC-AM via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) So we`re all supposed to know where WFNY is? Not a hint in this item. Looking it up, Gloversville NY; and where is that? NW of Schenectady, at the southern edge of the Adirondax. Not to be confused with KFNY, also on 1440! In Riverside CA, the latter axually with a `funny` format (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I don't know the laws, but I was always told that it was a federal offense to tamper with broadcast transmitting facilities since they are federally licensed, which makes sense to me. At the very least, it should give people something extra to think about to tell them that, whether verbally or in the form of posted signs at the site. 73, (Kit, W5KAT, ABDX via DXLD) There isn't much the FCC or the Gloversville NY PD can do. The juveniles were sent back home to live with the grand parents who apparently are afraid of these demented little brats. BTW, it is interesting to note that there had been a series of break- ins at other area businesses. They weren't caught until they came along and broke into our site. The rash of other break-ins stopped interesting enough. Hope everyone enjoys and has luck with the test. Our 500 watt directional signal that is the norm here is hammering away at DXers in Norway on an on going bases. Keep bringing in those signal reports. For those that are still waiting on confirmations from the last test, they will be coming as soon as those QSL cards come into the station so we can fill them out and send them on (Bob Carter - KC4QLP - WQJK414, Mid-Atlantic-Engineering-Service of Utica NY, ibid.) ** U S A. David, Do you have any info on status of the 1480 station? Let us know if and when it comes back on air (Glenn to David R Block, TX, via DXLD) March 11, Dallas Morning News: *Boys high school basketball:* FM Marcus vs. Gar. Lakeview Centennial/SA Taft winner, 8:30 p.m., *KNIT-AM 1480* (If Gar. Lakeview Centennial wins, KXEZ-FM 92.1 will also broadcast the game) That's not the calls I find in Wikipedia. They say that the calls were changed to KBXD in February. So I don't know why DMN shows the old calls. That is also the last date that they carried a Basketball game according to schedules posted in the Dallas Morning News. I'll let you know if I can find them. Then there's this, that says it has become a religious station, and showed signs of life 04/18. http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?action=printpage;topic=189262.0 They say it is operated by a minster in Grapevine (Fellowship Church?? Ed Young, Jr.?? It's the biggest one there.). Fellowship Church website says nothing of it so?? (David Block, TX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The 4/18 item of course is from last year, 2011y (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. AUDIO ARCHIVE OF FAR WEST TEXAS tower header Friday, April 13, 2012 Dear KRTS Listeners, Just over five years ago, when 93.5 FM came on the air in West Texas, one of the big ideas was a daily interview show. It would be a place for locals and visitors to tell their stories: musicians, scientists, authors, civic leaders, business owners, and more. It would be simple, smart, and straightforward. We named it Talk At Ten to remind our listeners to tune in weekdays at 10 AM. We would rebroadcast it at the end of the news day, at 6:30 PM, after All Things Considered and Marketplace. Talk At Ten would be about the guests - not the hosts - and true to our tag-line, it would cover a "Wide Range" of topics. An in-depth daily talk show seemed too ambitious for a small station, but today, more than 1,500 interviews later, Talk At Ten has become a vital community resource: a chronicle of Far West Texas over the past half-decade. We invite you to browse our recent archives and listen to the podcasts. Just in the past few weeks, you'll discover stories from elementary school kids, famine in nearby Mexico, the struggles of local veterans, tales of desert survival, and local writers hitting it big. Also, we invite you to suggest your own topics and guests for Talk At Ten. Email us at info@marfapublicradio.org or call us at 432-729-4578. Lastly, be sure to join us for the Spring Membership Drive. It begins in one week! You'll hear special programming from Friday April 20 to Friday April 27. This is the time to renew your membership in your regional radio station. Thanks for listening, -Tom Michael, General Manager, KRTS 93.5 FM P.S. Yesterday, KRTS staff and volunteers were honored to learn that Marfa Public Radio was awarded a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for its reporting on the West Texas wildfires in Spring 2011 (KRTS newsletter April 13 via DXLD) ** U S A. BAN ON POLITICAL ADS ON PUBLIC TV STRUCK DOWN Dennis Turpin smokes a cigar as he watches the U.S. Republican presidential debate at Castro's Back Room in Manchester, New Hampshire January 7, 2012. Credit: Reuters/Jessica Rinaldi [caption] By Jonathan Stempel, Terry Baynes and Jasmin Melvin Thu Apr 12, 2012 3:29pm EDT (Reuters) - A divided U.S. appeals court struck down a federal ban on political advertising on public TV and radio stations, a decision that could open the public airwaves to a heavy dose of campaign ads leading up to the November elections. By a 2-1 vote, a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said the Federal Communications Commission violated the First Amendment's free speech clause by blocking public broadcasters from running political and public issue ads. The court said the ban was too broad, and that lifting it would not threaten to undermine the educational nature of public broadcast stations. It upheld a ban on ads for goods and services on behalf of for-profit companies. "Public issue and political speech in particular is at the very core of the First Amendment's protection," Judge Carlos Bea wrote in the main opinion. "Public issue and political advertisements pose no threat of `commercialization'," he continued. "Such advertisements do not encourage viewers to buy commercial goods and services. A ban on such advertising therefore cannot be narrowly tailored to serve the interest of preventing the 'commercialization' of broadcasting." Minority Television Project, a California non-profit, had challenged the FCC after being fined $10,000 for running paid ads from companies such as insurer State Farm and General Motors Co's Chevrolet division on its KMTP-TV in San Francisco. "It is a significant victory," said Walter Diercks, a lawyer for the non-profit. The government should not be "picking and choosing what is appropriate content." The FCC had argued that the government has a significant interest in ensuring the airing of educational programming, many of which run on Public Broadcasting Service stations. It said if public broadcasters became more dependent on ads, they might create a void by replacing "Sesame Street" and other educational programming with programs that appeal to other viewers or listeners. The FCC had no immediate comment. A PBS spokeswoman declined to comment. "IT SCARES ME TO DEATH" Jeffrey Silva, a telecommunications analyst at Medley Global Advisors, said the decision could help ease the scramble that public broadcasters often face to raise money, but at a cost. "You can almost see with some of them that are very much vested in keeping public television's educational, nonpartisan nature intact that this could be kind of a complicating factor," he said. "You can envision where public TV does not look like it traditionally had. It suddenly becomes a different animal." Norman Ornstein, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, said the decision could "fundamentally change the character of public television and radio" by allowing deep-pocketed political and other organizations to begin "swooping" onto the public airwaves to air their messages. "This is just going to move us further away from what remains of a public square," said Ornstein, who said he served on PBS' board for six years. "To be truthful, it scares me to death." The AEI is a conservative Washington think tank. A federal judge in San Francisco had upheld the FCC restrictions in August 2009. Thursday's decision left the $10,000 fine intact. The 9th Circuit oversees cases in nine western U.S. states, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. FUTURE AT STAKE Concurring in Thursday's judgment, 9th Circuit Judge John Noonan said the rise of newer technologies for transmitting TV programs - such as cable, satellite, cell phones, the Internet and Apple Inc's iPad - required a closer look at how the government regulates speech on broadcast television. He also suggested that regulations may be inconsistent, referring to notices on behalf of financial services company Charles Schwab Corp on the show "PBS NewsHour." "I have seen announcements that to my mind are ads," he wrote. "I have viewed Charles Schwab's message, 'Talk to Chuck' - it is not about Chuck's golf game." Judge Richard Paez dissented. "For almost 60 years, commercial public broadcasters have been effectively insulated from the lure of paid advertising," he wrote. "The court's judgment will disrupt this policy and could jeopardize the future of public broadcasting. I am not persuaded that the First Amendment mandates such an outcome." Diercks, the plaintiff's lawyer, downplayed such concerns. "It is a hand-wringing fantasy to claim this decision will end public broadcasting as we know it," he said. "Public stations are already accepting money to put on what is at the very least 'image' advertising." Bea was appointed to the 9th Circuit by President George W. Bush; Noonan by President Ronald Reagan; and Paez by President Bill Clinton. The case is Minority Television Project Inc v. FCC, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 09-17311. (Reporting By Terry Baynes and Jonathan Stempel in New York and Jasmin Melvin in Washington, D.C.; editing by Andre Grenon and Carol Bishopric) (via Mike Cooper, WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DXLD) ** VATICAN. 7250, April 16 at 0540, open carrier, or maybe just barely modulated. SMG is supposed to be in Latin during this semihour; it was stronger during English until 0530. 7245 Mauritania not yet on (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CUBA: 9810; MEXICO: 6185 ** VIETNAM. The V of Vietnam in its Letterbox programme of 11 April confirmed that the best address to write to them is: The English program, Overseas Service, Radio Voice of Vietnam, 45 Ba Trieu street, Hanoi, Vietnam (and *not* the 58 Quan Su Street address as is shown in WRTH2012). Or email at: englishsection @ vov.org.vn. http://vovworld.vn/en-US/Letter-Box/Letter-Box-April-11/78877.vov (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, dxldyg via DXLD) .vov is a domain now? (gh) Some of you might have seen the short post placed recently on Glenn's DXLD by Alan Roe. This concerns the difficulties found in writing letters (yes, they still exist!) to VOV in Ha Noi. A long and fascinating email chain followed. I wish to thank all involved i.e Ian Baxter, Mauno Ritola, and Alan Davies. In short, it is almost certain that all of the domestic radio studio locations remain at 58 Quan Su Street. This long standing (I remember hearing it read out during my childhood around 1972 or so)address is where the original old structure has in fact been rebuilt. Unlike with Broadcasting House in London, VOV demolished and rebuilt the structure. Television, online, VOV Overseas, and an auditorium all come from a new building at 45 Ba Trieu Street (21 01 20N 105 51 03E). I happens to be straight opposite the French Embassy and also is the new address for any letters to VOV. Alan Davies has taken some beautiful photos of each building - if anybody would like me to upload the 9 photos I will gladly do so. The upshot of all this is that Ian Baxter will be making several alterations to his SWSites data. As you know, only one frequency is used currently for VOV Overseas on MW - 1242. This will be altered on my current database. 73 (Dan Goldfarb, April 16, mwmasts yg via DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. 9555, April 16 at 0527-0528* BaBcoCk IS loop at its totally reliable time tailgating the Vietnamese relay via CANADA. Does anyone know what this music is called, composer? Try plugging it into music-identification software (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM [non]. CUBA: RADIO HABANA CUBA ENTREGÓ A PHU TRONG DISCO CON PROGRAMAS SOBRESALIENTES DE LA EMISORA http://www.radiohc.cu/noticias/nacionales/15071-diez-momentos-en-la-historia-de-medio-siglo-de-radio-habana-cuba.html La Habana, 13 de abr (RHC).- En un encuentro aquí, antes de concluir su visita a la Isla, el Secretario General del Partido Comunista de Vietnam, Nguyen Phu Trong, recibió copias de un programa especial con los diez momentos más sobresalientes en el medio siglo de existencia de la emisora cubana de ondas cortas. La donación tuvo lugar en la Casa de Protocolo que alojó a Nguyen Phu Trong durante su visita de varios días a Cuba, durante la cual fue recibido por el presidente Raúl Castro, tuvo un cálido encuentro con Fidel Castro y fue condecorado con la Orden José Martí, la más alta distinción cubana. En ese programa se informa sobre el apoyo de Radio Habana Cuba a La Voz de Vietnam, para hacer llegar al pueblo norteamericano, diariamente y en idioma inglés, desde enero de 1968 hasta el final de la guerra, en 1975, la verdad del genocidio imperialista, así como la heroica resistencia del pueblo vietnamita, bajo la sabia dirección de su líder histórico Ho Chi Minh. La solidaridad con Vietnam, que perdió a cuatro millones de sus hijos en esa guerra, es uno de los diez temas contenidos en el programa especial de Radio Habana Cuba, realizado por un equipo dirigido por el periodista y fundador de la emisora Ignacio Canel Bravo e integrado por los locutores Mercedes Avila y Manuel Martínez, y los realizadores de audio Alejandro García y Yilbert Iser. El periodista Pedro Martínez Pírez, subdirector de Radio Habana Cuba y Secretario Ejecutivo de Comisión por el aniversario 50 de la emisora, entregó la grabación a la delegación encabezada por Nguyen Phu Trong (via Yimber Gaviria, April 13, DXLD) In case you find it hard to remember a VOV relay via CUBA, IIRC there was none per se: RHC itself produced the pro-Hanoi programming (gh, DXLD) ** VIETNAM. QSL FROM VIETNAMESE COASTAL RADIO STATIONS The following 3 Vietnamese coastal radio stations recently verified my reception reports in English, enclosing $1 and PFC. Ho Chi Minh Radio (call XVS, power 5 kW, 0105 1305 7906/8924 kHz USB) verified by PFC QSL card after 22 days, unsigned and unstamped Address: 432-436 Ngyen Tat Thanh Street, Ward 18, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City E-mail: hcminh_radio @ vishipel.com.vn Tel: +84-8-39404148/38222973 Fax: +84-8-39404581 Danang Radio (call XVT, power 1 kW, 0035 1235 7906/8924 kHz USB) verified by PFC QSL card after 17 days, stamped and signed by Le Bien Dung, station director Address: 216 Nguyen Van Linh Street, Da Nang E-mail: dnang_radio @ vishipel.com.vn Tel: +84-511-3655960 Fax: +84-511-3650177 Can Tho Radio (call XVU, power 1 kW, 0205 1405 7906 kHz USB) verified by PFC QSL card after 24 days, unstamped, signed by Tran Thi Thu Dung, $1 was returned Address: 14/11 Le Hong Phong Street, Binh Thuy, Can Tho E-mail: ctho_radio @ vishipel.com.vn Tel/Fax: +84-71-3841240 Also E-QSLs were sent from these 2 coastal stations Phan Rang Radio (0135 1335 7906 USB) phrang_radio @ vishipel.com.vn Mon Cai Radio (0120 1320 7906 USB) mcai_radio @ vishipel.com.vn "Coastal Radio Station" in Vietnamese is "dai thong tin duyen hai", abbreviated as "dai TTDH". General station identification is as "Day la dai thong tin duyen hai Da Nang" (This is Danang coastal radio station). (Takahito Akabayashi, Japan, April 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. Plató de televisión de la RASD. JULEN BEGIRISTAIN La información con mensaje político se retransmite en los campos de refugiados de Tinduf desde hace 37 años. El primer espacio radiofónico saharaui surgió en Libia en 1974 --- PATRICIA CAMPELO [. . . large portion omitted] EL PRIMER ALTAVOZ DEL PUEBLO SAHARAUI La memoria radiofónica de los habitantes del desierto se remonta a 1974, cuando desde la ciudad libia de Trípoli se emitía en onda corta el programa ‘Saguia el Hamra y Río de Oro en vía de libertad'. "Era un espacio de media hora en el que los libios emitían informaciones para los saharauis", recuerda Jatry Aduh, presidente del parlamento, que por entonces era un inquieto veinteañero. Información y sensibilización eran los objetivos de aquellos mensajes que llegaban a las ciudades del Sáhara Occidental. "Había información y divulgación de la causa saharaui para sensibilizar tanto al propio pueblo como al resto del mundo árabe", ilustra Aduh. El mensaje que llegaba por las ondas aquellos años era el mismo que aún reivindican en los campamentos de refugiados: la descolonización y la independencia del territorio delimitado al norte por el río Saguia el Hamra y al sur por el río de Oro. "La voluntad de la población para liberar su país sigue siendo férrea y cada vez más fuerte a pesar del tiempo que ha pasado desde la ocupación", concluye el político saharaui. FUENTE: http://bit.ly/J3L7Ev (Via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, April 16, DXLD) Started from LIBYA ** ZIMBABWE [non]. MADAGASCAR, Frequency and transmitter site changes of Zimbabwe Community Radio/Radio Dialogue in English, Ndebele and Shona to Zimbabwe from April 1 1600-1700 NF 12115 MDC 250 kW / 265 deg, ex 5890 MEY 100 kW / 000 deg (DX Re Mix News 16 April via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 650, April 12 at 2050 UT on caradio, rather quiet conditions and IBOC off from WWLS 640, audiblized a SAH and mix of talk and music here long before sunset: the closest two, possible at the edge of their groundwave reaches, some 500 miles away, are KGAB near Cheyenne WY (8500 watts, which I have heard before in the daytime), and KIKK near Houston TX (but it`s only 250 watts; seems to me KIKK could run much higher day power if they wanted to, far enough from WY and TN; why don`t they?). Wonder if there is a closer stray mixing product or inband TIS in the mix? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 5059.977, 2330-2345 April 13, Noted a weak signal here of music. At 2331 after the music finished, heard a female speaking over the noise. After a couple of minutes, music returns. Can't confirm any other details as the noise is very loud at this time and the signal is worse than threshold! (Chuck Bolland, Excalibur, 26N 81W, Clewiston FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 6050.932, 13.4 2315, UNID, maybe HCJB?? sounded a little religious, heavily disturbed by 6050.0 Tibet. Not possible to recognize the language. TN (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin April 15 via DXLD) Did you mean 6049.932? Unlikely HCJB would be almost 1 kHz off (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED [non]. Alex and I have been discussing this. He`s sure the language was English and the frequency was 7260. Let`s try again tonight around 0100+. I was listening from 2355 when there were M&W conversing in SW Asian? language, very poor with SSB QRM, and for a while ham was cutting AM carrier on and off 7258. There was an automatic timesignal at 0000 as April 13 started, and they continued talking, apparently no change of programming or service. Turkey would be possible, but it`s not supposed to start until 0000, in Turkish. CRI Sinhala service via East Turkistan is also scheduled at 2330-0030, but that would not cover the time he heard something. V. of Russia is listed on 7260 at 22-03 by HFCC from Moscow site to Latin America, but not in Aoki, or Eibi. And none of the VOR IS or ID around hourtop. All three also have Mongolian Radio 2 thruout this span, but of course would not be in English, and daytime propagation path not much more likely than Vanuatu (Glenn Hauser, April 12, ibid.) Glenn, 7260 - TRT here with dominant signal from 0020 to past 0100. Prior to 0030 CRI was there underneath Turkey with Sinhala program but signed off at 0030. Plenty of ham QRM to go around but not a real factor against TRT (Stephen Wood, Harwich, Mass., Perseus SDR with 25 x 50 superloop antenna, ibid.) Turkey, Voice of Turkey on 7260 with a male host spinning pop music at 0128 in Turkish, April 12. One idea for my Vanuatu mix up could be the SSB QRM I was hearing could have been mistaken for English language broadcast when it was VO Turkey all along. I am sincerely sorry for the confusion. Thanks all for helping me (us) solve this puzzle. I would not wish to be considered unreliable. I count on your logs and I am grateful you took the time to help me solve this riddle. Corrections, assistance and suggestions are always welcomed. Thank you all for your patience, (Alex Klauber, ptsw yg via DXLD) see also TURKEY UNIDENTIFIED. Re 12-15, 7610, 7620: see TAIWAN [and non] UNIDENTIFIED. 9675.0, April 14 at 0542 open carrier. Not REE Costa Rica since they are on 9630 tonight. Only thing in HFCC is BSKSA Riyadh at 03-09, 500 kW non-direxional. Might suspect Brasil, but it`s rather strong for that, and not off-frequency. EiBi and Aoki also show CNR1 Beijing, but Aoki lacks Saudi (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 10000, April 18 at 0550, weak 2-way under WWV/H, probably in Spanish (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 13386-13608, April 15 at 1948 I measure the span of CODAR swishes to this range, only bothering broadcasters on 13570 WINB, and 13590 CVC Zambia, which is about to QSY. You`d think CODAR could keep itself totally below 13570, the lowest broadcast frequency on this band (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 17660.2v at 1402-1500+ April 12, the `banshee` against 17660 Saudi Arabia, q.v., Noel R. Green, England, replies: ``I also heard this, and thought maybe it was another sender having transmitter problems. NHK is not scheduled on this frequency, so it wasn't them - too strong, anyway. Riyadh was in French, and appeared to be steady on channel. I *thought* I could hear another voice occasionally in the background, but it was impossible to tell what that might have been. We know that ARS senders can buzz like a bee - let's hope they don't start wailing like banshees too!!! What's happened to their new ones - I can't believe they are unable to pay the bill`` (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 21660, April 13 at 1916, JBA carrier with trace of modulation. Nothing scheduled now in HFCC, Aoki or EiBi, but they disagree on total usage of this frequency. At other hours, HFCC has IBB Tinian, BSKSA Jeddah, BBC Thailand. Aoki has only BBC. EiBi has only RFA Tinian one other hour a week + CNR1 jammer. Needs further monitoring. 21660, re my JBA unID here April 13 at 1916 when nothing is listed: another possibility occurs, third harmonic from 7 MHz band, 7220? Nothing on 7220 either at this hour in HFCC, but Aoki and EiBi remind us it could be V of Broad Masses of Eritrea on one of its many alternate jumparound frequencies; which as an outlaw nation refuses to participate in HFCC. But certainly unlikely to be getting out that late at night (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 26565, UNKNOWNIA, 4/17, 0200. M with pirate like broadcast, strong, reggae and commentary in Spanish. Off and silence, punctuated by possible Mexican taxi dispatch after close (Rick Barton, El Mirage AZ, HF equipment used at shack: Drake R-8 + S-77A, HQ-120X , HQ-200 , SP-600, indoor loop, outdoor Slinky, ABDX April 17 via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ACKNOWLEDGED ON WORLD OF RADIO 1613: Hello, Glenn, I am an SWB listener in New Hampshire, about an hour north of Boston. You provide an incredible amount of SWB information. Keep up the great work! Best regards, (Patrick Jeffery, Rye, NH with a contribution in dollars via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com) TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED ON FUTURE WORs: Thanks to Chuck Ermatinger, St Louis, for a contribution via PayPal Glenn, Attached is my first contribution to support your media news activities. I plan on making more in the future, on a monthly or quarterly basis. Like some other recent contributors, I am working my way back into the hobby after a long absence (Dustin Brann, via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com) Tnx to Will Martin, check in the mail to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702 I look up to you, respect all you do for the love of the hobby and I follow your posts and website so I can gain experience and add to my small but growing QSL card collection. Some members of the group have been quite rude and disrespectful. You on the other hand have been nothing short of a gentleman. Thank you, (Alex Klauber) Thanks too, Glenn, for the hard work you put into WOR. I read every issue, and I don't always realize how hard you work on this, so this evening, I took a while to write a few words of thanks, and that you provide us a great service. Take care, Glenn, Best Wishes (Chris Lewis, England) Glenn Hauser equipment? Dear Glenn, Hello, I have been subscribed for your mailing list for several months and I always read your logs with interest. Would you please tell me what are your receiver and antenna? Thanks in advance. 73! (Georgi Bancov, Bulgaria) Hi Georgi, I do mention this occasionally within a log. FRG-7 is main receiver. 30+ meter east-west longwire is main antenna. I also use a DX-398 sometimes portable outside, or with a shorter wire antenna plugged in. And a YB-400, handy for checking frequencies and parallels, since the FRG-7 has only an analog dial. When inside, on the DX-398 and YB-400 I clip on random wires inside the house. Most of my MW logs are on the DX-398 with internal antenna. I also have several lesser portables occasionally used. Glenn CONGRATULATIONS TOO to GLENN HAUSER’s DXLD Yahoo Group which marked its 8th birthday at the beginning of this month. The DXLD (DX Listening Digest) now has over 600 members, and is one of the most active Internet-based DX hobby groups around. Glenn writes that “I think we have the most diverse and helpful group of its kind, with participants all over the world, many with long experience and expertise. Thanks to everyone for making this such a great place to share DX information!” For the very latest in DX news and tips, and help with identifying strange radio signals, we recommend you sign up to the DXLD YG, by sending a request to subscribe to: dxld-subscribe@yahoogroups.com (Bryan Clark, April NZ DX Times via DXLD) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ Don`t you believe these logs from ``GH-USA`` in the April DSWCI SW News ``Shortwave Tips`` 6010,0 0703-0813 B 4.3 Radio Inconfidencia, Belo Horizonte Portuguese 23322 MAM-E x 6010,0 0703-0813 CLM 4.3 La Voz de tu Conciencia, Lomalinda Spanish 23332 GH-USA x 6055,0 1125-1130 PRU 16.2 Aroma Cafe Radio, Pichanaki, Cajamarca Spanish GH-USA x 9480,0 2100- USA 29.3 Radio WTWW, Lebanon-TN English GH-USA x 15476,0 1322- ATA 29.3 LRA 36, R Naci. Arcangel San Gabriel, Spanish GH-USA I did NOT report LV de tu Conciencia on that date at any time: both the date and time were obviously repeated from the preceding log of another station by another listener! I did NOT report Aroma Café Radio on ``6055,0``. I mentioned 6055 in the item as little QRM from Japan, with ACR really slightly below 6060.0 as always. WTWW I never report on 9480, let alone ``9480,0`` since it is really on 9479!! My ``report`` of LRA36 was yet another check clearly stating that it was NOT HEARD!! I.e. confirming that it was still apparently off the air. How could it be in Spanish? What can you do with editors who make stuff up? I will forego picking apart logs from others, but quoting anything else from this is risky (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PRESS RELEASE FROM THE DANISH SHORTWAVE CLUB INTERNATIONAL (DSWCI) http://www.dswci.org NEW SURVEY AVAILABLE: The DOMESTIC BROADCASTING SURVEY 14 (DBS-14), April 2012 edited by DSWCI Chairman, Anker Petersen. ISSN 1399-8218 The 55 years old DSWCI which counts experienced DX-ers in 33 countries all over the world as members, has just issued the 14th Edition of its annual Domestic Broadcasting Survey. This survey is divided into three parts: Part 1: The 40th edition of the Tropical Bands Survey covering all ACTIVE broadcasting stations on 2300 - 5700 kHz, including clandestines. Part 2: Domestic stations on international shortwave bands above 5700 kHz broadcasting to a domestic audience. Part 3: Deleted frequencies between 2 and 30 MHz which have not been reported heard during the past five years, but may reappear. (This Part 3 is only published in the E-mail version, but buyers of the printed version can get a copy from the Editor upon request.) This new Survey is based upon many official sources and DX-bulletins. A12 schedules are included when available. In order to make the DBS reliable, our own monitors around the world have checked throughout the period April 2011 – March 2012, if each of the 690 station frequencies is on the air. ACTIVE stations are marked with an A ("Regular"), B ("Irregular") or C ("Sporadic") in the list. D means "Likely inactive". A unique feature is the right column called "Last log". It shows the last month and year before DBS deadline on March 31, 2012 when the particular station was reported logged by a DX-er somewhere in the world. This is another way of indicating the current audibility of the station. To avoid inactive stations in this DBS, most frequencies which have not been heard during the past year, have been deleted and are moved to Part 3. Other useful features for easy identification (ID) are the parallel frequencies and reference to Station ID slogans. Three sample extracts from the DBS-14 are shown on the next page. Reviews can be found on http://www.dswci.org All buyers of DBS-14 will get a username and password to the monthly updates on the tropical bands published as "Tropical Bands Monitor" on our website. The similar data from 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 are available at http://www.dswci.org/tbm to anybody. The 23 pages A-4 size DBS-14 is available by e-mail as pdf-format (about 505 kB). A limited number is also available printed on paper. It has 20 pages without Part 3. It is sold by the treasurer: DSWCI, c/o Bent Nielsen, Egekrogen 14, DK 3500 Vaerloese, DENMARK E-Mail edition: DKK 35,00 or USD 7.00 or EUR 5,00 or GBP 4,00 or SEK 45,00 or IRC 3. Printed edition: DKK 70,00 or USD 13.00 or EUR 10,00 or GBP 8,00 or SEK 90,00 or IRC 5. Payment by cash notes are accepted whereas checks and postal money orders are not accepted. DSWCI Bank is Danske Bank, 2-12 Holmens Kanal, DK-1092 Copenhagen K. BIC/SWIFT : DABADKKK. IBAN: DK 44 3000 4001 528459. Danish buyers please use: Reg. 3001- konto 4001528459. If you have EURO as national currency, you are advised to pay to our representative in Germany, Andreas Schmid. Andreas Schmid, Lerchenweg 4, D-97717 Euerdorf, Germany. E-mail: schmidandy@aol.com Account 2912472076 at Targobank BLZ: 30020900. BIC: CMCIDEDD. IBAN: DE24300209002912472076. If you want to pay via PAYPAL, you have to contact Andreas Schmid, before you send your payment. Payment via PayPal only in US$ currency and only for persons, living outside the European Union (EU). Best 73's, Anker Petersen and Bent Nielsen (DSWCI press release via DXLD) SHORTWAVE MUSIC +++++++++++++++ MADTONE, SHORTWAVE SAMPLES Hi Glenn, Pete from Madtone here who makes music from samples from the shortwave spectrum. Here are two new tunes, thanks for mentioning my music in the past. http://www.yousendit.com/download/M3BsSmIrdzh5UkVaQ2NUQw All the best and keep up the good work with the show http://weedsuptomeknees.wordpress.com/ (my gardening blog if you're interested!) (Pete Polanyk, UK, April 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Contains two zipped mp3 files, Compost your Mind, and Thunn; online until April 23, it says. SW connexion unclear (gh, DXLD) WORLD OF HOROLOGY See also AZERBAIJAN +++++++++++++++++ Re: BBC WS state time pips "have been late for at least 25 years" [above under UK] Japan's NHK, being perfectionists, dropped the top-of-the-hour time pips on TV when they moved to a digital production system because of the delays introduced by encoding and decoding. They were used before the main news bulletins on General TV. When digital was just getting started and the production chain was still based in analog, they even went to the bother of mixing out the pips and having a slightly different opening for the first 5-seconds of the news on the digital channel before mixing back to the analog broadcast. It's worth remembering that the decoding process takes a slightly different time depending on the TV (or other equipment) used so even broadcasting them early to compensate for encoding wouldn't leave them entirely accurate (Martyn Williams, CA, North Korea Tech, April 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) What they ought to do is have every TV and radio set capable of being triggered ahead of time to produce its own time pips at exactly the right instants (gh, DXLD) But then the pips would clash with the audio of the previous programming segment. Unless of course, a good "silent buffer" is built into the programming. This might have to be close to a minute in some circumstances. I miss analog! (NM7X = GORNIAK, MICHAEL J, BRAHAM, MN 55006, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) MUSEA +++++ IEEE item on the Titanic's radio As we're remembering the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's sinking today, a colleague forwarded me this item from an IEEE publication regarding the radio technology and protocols of the day. https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B4dHdLKhiihMQmtTNGFWeVR6Um8 (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, April 12, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) Interesting, their interpretation of the 'CQD' distress call from the word 'secu' (CQ) short for securite, meaning important telegraph message. I have another printed book that interpreted 'CQD' to mean 'come quick danger'. This story also has the Titanic's call incorrect. It was not 'MQY' but 'MGY'. (J Rich, VA3QSL [sic], ODXA yg via DXLD) Nice bit of information but surprising that it includes the wrong call sign for the Titanic. One myth about the Titanic is that it was the first ship to send a distress call using "SOS". I find it interesting that the page shows Germany adopted the use of SOS several years before the sinking of the Titanic which brings in to question whether the Titanic was the first to use SOS or not. -- Cheers! (Kevin Cozens, ibid.) JACK PHILLIPS: TITANIC HERO Southgate April 12, 2012 http://www.southgatearc.org/news/april2012/boy_from_godalming_became_titanic_hero.htm BBC News carries a video report on the Titanic's chief wireless telegraphist Jack Phillips. For a young man from a Surrey village, being promoted to chief wireless telegraphist on the new luxury liner Titanic was a source of great pride. The son of a draper, Jack Phillips operated the most modern and powerful wireless equipment of any merchant ship of the time. But before the doomed vessel sailed, he told a friend he would have preferred to be aboard a smaller ship - for Jack had a dread of icebergs. Nonetheless the 25 year old's actions in the early hours of 15 April 1912, as Titanic sank in the Atlantic, ensured that he was remembered as a hero of the disaster. Watch the video at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-17690412 (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) SHORTWAVE AMERICA - TITANIC 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE SHOW One hundred years ago, the Titanic set sail for the first and final voyage that would turn out to be the single worst maritime and radio communications disasters of mankind's history. Shortwave America takes you into the radio room in this tribute and talks about amateur radio special event stations including one who paid tribute to the rescue ship, Carpathia. We also hear words from Titanic Commander, C.H. Lightoller before he died. http://shortwaveamerica.blogspot.com/2012/04/titanic-100-year-anniversary-tribute.html (Dan Hensley, April 13, dxldyg via DXLD) REBUILDING THE TITANIC There is a mini-series running this week on National Geographic channel (at least on the Canadian feed) called Rebuilding the Titanic. One episode involves the restoration of a 100 year old wireless set similar to the one on Titanic. Quite interesting, at least the part of the episode I saw. It is due to be repeated at 8pm and Midnight tonight, Eastern Time. The whole series is running several times on Sunday as a marathon. Not sure if its also running in the US or at different times, or on a different network (Fred Waterer, Ont., ``To those of you who seek lost objects of history, I wish you the best of luck. They're out there, and they're whispering.`` - Clive Cussler [tagline] http://www.doghousecharlie.com April 13, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) NG not basic cable here (gh) GB100MWT TITANIC SPECIAL AMATEUR RADIO EVENT STATION Interesting video now posted to You Tube. A short montage from the GB100MWT Special Event Station. Transmissions from Great Baddow, near Chelmsford, Essex - The birthplace of radio. Special Event amateur radio station on 15th April 2012, the anniversary of the Titanic disaster. Station operated by the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society. Includes picture of their very nice QSL card. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=815TTcb99co (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) I logged your World of Radio program #1612, 14 April 2012 at 1500 UT on 9955 kHz, with a very readable signal from WRMI. Thank you for mentioning the 100 year anniversary of the Titanic! I did some searching and came across two ARO stations airing commemorative events: W0S (Whiskey Zero Service) on 14240 USB from the Titanic Museum in Branson, Missouri and also K3MGY Special Event Station commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Titanic, from Catonsville, Maryland on 7238 LSB. The bands were very noisy, but I was able to raise a signal above the noise floor, thanks in part to the SSB mode. As an aside, Glenn, the History Channel ran an excellent program which investigated the ruins of the Titanic on the ocean floor and re- engineered the vessel based on high resolution photos and computer technology. Amazingly, the studies revealed that there was no engineering flaw which caused the ship to break in two. All indicators pointed toward impact of the Titanic with the iceberg. 73's, (Ed Insinger, Summit, NJ, April 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) FRANK CONRAD INVENTS BROADCASTING Frank Conrad (1874 – 1941) was a radio broadcasting pioneer who worked as the Assistant Chief Engineer for the Westinghouse Electric Corporation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,. He began what are considered the first regular radio broadcasts from his Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, garage in 1916, and is responsible for the founding of the first licensed broadcast station in the world: KDKA. Interesting article and video here: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/april2012/radio_ham_established_broadcasting.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AmateurRadioNews+%28Southgate+Amateur+Radio+News%29 (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) POLAND AND CZECHOSLOVAKIA JOINT JAMMING AGAINST RFE/RL/VOA In an international law treaty in Warsaw in 1953, Poland and CSSR signed a contract of common RADIO JAMMING on LW, MW and SW against US RL/RFE/VOA outlets. On 17 Dec 1954 was a meeting of representatives of Czechoslovakia and MV PLR to deepen cooperation in the defense against a hostile broadcasting. The existing collaboration was characterized as very beneficial. She was, according to participants in the meeting to further develop thanks to the expanding construction of new transmitters in the FRG. At the meeting it was agreed to begin construction of a broadcasting center for the long wave interference in the PLR ?? and one in Czechoslovakia, organize exchange of experience and further consultation. MW Stargard Tychovo-POL, Podebrady/Melnik-CSSR It was also disturbed by the RIAS broadcasts in German for German- speaking area with a population (Brno, Olomouc, Karlovy Vary, Usti nad Labem and Liberec). ... repealing the new center for broadcast on long wave and 30 June 1958. The decision to build a center for interference to DV in southwestern Bohemia was later changed completely and for this purpose was modified Liblice existing transmitter, which was simpler and cheaper solution (reconstruction required a cost about half a million crowns). CSSR national jamming control center at Drahelcicích 50 01 53.52 N 14 11 15.58 E jamming Olomouc Litovel 49 42 41.80 N 17 03 24.68 E RFE / RL - The Soviet Union wanted to build a long-range protection of LPP in Syria and Vietnam. The main item was a monitor stationed at the receiving station to Boruche, 40 km east of Warsaw. POL Borucza receiving jamming control center: 52 20 33.34 N 21 34 03.25 E (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews April 17 via DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DRM See also ALASKA; BELGIUM; BOLIVIA; ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CANADA; CHILE; COSTA RICA; GUIANA FRENCH; INDIA; NEW ZEALAND; NIGERIA; SAIPAN; UKRAINE NEWSTAR DR111 RECEIVER QUICK VIDEO TOUR A video spin around the Newstar DR111: http://drmnainfo.blogspot.com/2012/04/cdnse-newstar-dr111-receiver.html (via Benn Kobb, dxldyg via DXLD) The new DRM Newstar receiver is unveiled Digital Radio Mondiale's photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/drmorg/ (via Mike Terry, ibid.) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ LPFM OPEN CHANNEL FINDER TOOL The Media Bureau has released its updated Low Power FM (LPFM) Channel Finder search tool: Story: http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db0412/DA-12-582A1.doc LPFM Channel Finder Tool: http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/low-power-fm-lpfm-channel-finder NOTES FOR RADIO o "The Local Community Radio Act has as its primary aim the expansion of the low power FM service. But it also seeks to create new FM translators, both for their standard use and as a supplement for signal-challenged AM stations:" http://rbr.com/fcc-issues-guidance-on-translator-applications/ (CGC Communicator April 16 via Kevin Redding, ABDX via dXLD) AM SYNC VS ECSS VS USING SSB ON THE RADIO FOR RECEPTION Hello Group, Can someone explain to me the differences (including differences between the effectiveness of each) between using AM Sync, ECSS, or just using SSB mode on your receiver for the reception of SWBC stations? Thanks to all (AC0X, April 13, NASWA yg via DXLD) A lot depends on the radio itself. A radio like the Eton E1 can use its AM sync mode to simultaneously pick up both sidebands as well as sync to the individual upper and lower sidebands. This can eliminate or reduce the effects of both selective fading as well as adjacent- channel interference. A single button push can cycle between both / upper / lower sidebands in AM Sync mode. IIRC the Sony ICF-2010 will sync with either the upper or lower, depending on which side of the carrier you tune. Similar result, though it can't sync with both sidebands simultaneously. Most radios (all of which are portables) that I have used with just SSB enabled have relatively narrow bandwidths in that mode, which makes for less enjoyable listening (presuming I could use a wider bandwidth if it were available). My two cents. Hope it's helpful; others may have different experience (and different recommendations). (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, ibid.) Hello Richard, Thanks for this information. I didn't realize some radios can actually sync to both USB and LSB at the same time, interesting. What I'm actually looking to determine is if using USB or LSB on a "better" ham rig would be similar to using Sync/ECSS on a "better" SW receiver, would it also reduce the distortion effects of fading and overall signal intelligibility. Understanding of course that the ham rig would have to manually tuned and wouldn't automatically sync or automatically stay "locked". I also do understand many radios have narrower bandwidths for SSB which can make for less enjoyable listening, but my Kenwood TS-590S actually allows for pretty wide audio bandwidths even in SSB. Thanks (AC0X [= LOUIS SICA, JR., SAINT PAUL, MN], ibid.) MULTI-USER SDR IN WALLA2 Check out an internet connected Software Defined Radio in Walla Walla, Washington at http://outside.wallawalla.edu:8901/ I've just been listening to 40 meter CW, and with a mouse click you can select 20 meters also. This can support multiple simultaneous users tuning independently. Thanks to KD7PAJ for this (QST de W1AW Propagation Forecast Bulletin 15 ARLP015, From Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, WA April 13, 2012, To all radio amateurs, via Dave Raycroft, ODXA yg via DXLD) Seems this tunes ONLY 40 and 20m CW ranges? No, a sample entry has 3610 kHz. Only hambands? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Propagation outlook from PIG April 15 --- P.I.G. Bulletin 120415 Solar and flare activity will be low. Solar radio flux (10.7 cm) is expected 100 - 120 f.u. Geomagnetic field will be: Mostly quiet on April 21 - 22, May 3 Quiet to unsettled on April 16 - 17, 26 - 27 Mostly unsettled on April 18 - 20, 28 - 30, May 1 - 2, 4 - 5 Unsettled to active on April 23 - 25 High probability of changes in solar wind which may caused changes in magnetosphere and ionosphere is expected on April 19 - 20, 23 - 25 Petr Kolman, OK1MGW, Czech Propagation Interested Group (OK1HH & OK1MGW) e-mail: kolmanp(at)razdva.cz (via Dario Monferini, DXLD) Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to minor storm conditions with a period of major storming observed at high latitudes. The summary period started with mostly quiet conditions until 12 April. At approximately 12/0300 UTC, solar wind speed began to show a slow rise while the total field (Bt) component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) increased to around 10 nT as a coronal hole high speed stream was moving into a geoeffective position. Solar wind speeds gradually increased to approximately 655 km/s by 13/0848 UTC. The geomagnetic field responded with quiet to active periods on 12 April and active to minor storm periods with an isolated major storm period through mid-day 13 April. By noon on 13 April, solar wind speeds were elevated still around 616 km/s, however the total field had decreased to around 3 nT. Solar wind speed slowly decreased to around 430 km/s by the end of the period. The geomagnetic field was at mostly quiet levels with isolated unsettled to active periods from late on 13 April through the end of the summary period. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 16 APRIL - 12 MAY 2012 Solar activity is expected to be very low to low levels with the slight chance for M-class flares during the period. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to begin the period at high levels, and remain so through 18 April. Conditions are forecast to decrease to normal to moderate levels through 10 May, before increasing to high levels again on 11 and 12 May. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to begin the period at mostly quiet levels and remain so through 19 April. Quiet to unsettled conditions are forecast due to a solar sector boundary crossing (SSBC) anticipated on 20 April, before returning to mostly quiet conditions on 21 and 22 April. Unsettled to active levels are forecast on 23 and 24 April from an expected recurrent coronal hole (CH). Mostly quiet levels are expected to return 25 April through 01 May. Should see unsettled to active conditions on 02, 03, & 04 May as the ambient background solar winds speeds should increase along with more possible southward Bz. Quiet conditions should return 5-8 May, before the return of high speed solar wind from a large negative polarity CH on 9, 10, 11 May, which is forecast to produce unsettled to active conditions and a possible isolated minor storm in the night sector. 12 May should see a return to mostly quiet levels to round out the period. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2012 Apr 16 1335 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # Product description and SWPC contact on the Web # http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2012-04-16 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2012 Apr 16 105 5 2 2012 Apr 17 105 5 2 2012 Apr 18 105 5 2 2012 Apr 19 105 5 2 2012 Apr 20 100 8 3 2012 Apr 21 100 5 2 2012 Apr 22 105 5 2 2012 Apr 23 105 10 4 2012 Apr 24 105 10 4 2012 Apr 25 105 5 2 2012 Apr 26 100 5 2 2012 Apr 27 100 5 2 2012 Apr 28 100 5 2 2012 Apr 29 95 5 2 2012 Apr 30 90 5 2 2012 May 01 90 5 2 2012 May 02 95 5 2 2012 May 03 95 5 2 2012 May 04 95 5 2 2012 May 05 90 5 2 2012 May 06 90 5 2 2012 May 07 90 5 2 2012 May 08 90 5 2 2012 May 09 95 15 5 2012 May 10 95 15 5 2012 May 11 95 8 4 2012 May 12 105 5 2 (SWPC via WORLD OF RADIO 1613, DXLD) SOLAR-ACTIVITY FORECAST FOR THE PERIOD APRIL 20 - 26, 2012 Activity level: predominantly low Radio flux (10.7 cm): a fluctuation in the range 95-135 f.u. Flares: weak (1-15/day), middle (0-3/period) Relative sunspot number: in the range 70-130 Astronomical Institute, Solar Dept., Ondrejov, Czech Republic e-mail: sunwatch(at)asu.cas.cz (RWC Prague via Dario Monferini, April 19, DXLD) NZ4O MF/HF/6M (600-6 METERS) RADIOWAVE PROPAGATION FORECAST #2012-17 has been published at 0000 UTC on Friday April 20, 2012, valid 0000 UTC Saturday April 21, 2012 through 2359 UTC Friday April 27, 2012. This condensed forecast can also be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/SolarCycle24org/139198369462931 The complete forecast can be found at http://www.solarcycle24.org and http://www.wcflunatall.com/propagation.htm FORECASTED NORTHERN HEMISPHERE GLOBAL HF CONDITIONS- Low Latitude- Normal Mid Latitude- Normal High Latitude- Normal FORECASTED SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE GLOBAL HF CONDITIONS- Low Latitude- Normal Mid Latitude- Normal High Latitude- Normal NORTHERN HEMISPHERE 80, 60, 40, 30 METERS- East -> West To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Fair To Good West -> East To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Fair To Good North -> South To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Fair To Good South -> North To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Fair To Good SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE 80, 60, 40, 30 METERS- East -> West To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Fair To Good West -> East To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Fair To Good South -> North To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Fair To Good North -> South To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Fair To Good NORTHERN HEMISPHERE 20, 17, 15 METERS- East -> West To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Good West -> East To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Good North -> South To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Good South -> North To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Good SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE 20, 17, 15 METERS- East -> West To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Good West -> East To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Good South -> North To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Good North -> South To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Good NORTHERN HEMISPHERE 12, 10 METERS- East -> West To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Fair West -> East To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Fair North -> South To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Fair South -> North To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Fair SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE 12, 10 METERS- East -> West To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Fair West -> East To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Fair South -> North To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Fair North -> South To 2000 Mi/3200 km- Fair HF Propagation Forecast Scale- Excellent S9+1 Or Better Good S7-S9 Fair S4-S6 Poor S1-S3 None S0 From the Northern Hemisphere- (TA) Trans Atlantic, (TI) Trans Indian, (TP) Trans Pacific and cross Equatorial HF propagation conditions greater than 2000 mi/3200 km will be FAIR TO GOOD on 80, 60, 40 and 30 meters, GOOD on 20, 17, 15 and FAIR on 12 and 10 meters. From the Southern Hemisphere- (TA) Trans Atlantic, (TI) Trans Indian, (TP) Trans Pacific and cross Equatorial HF propagation conditions greater than 2000 mi/3200 km will be FAIR TO GOOD on 80, 60, 40 and 30 meters, GOOD on 20, 17, 15 and FAIR on 12 and 10 meters. GLOBAL 50-54 MC (6 meter) PROPAGATION MODES EXPECTED FORECAST- F2- None Sporadic E (Es)- Yes Aurora E High Latitude- Yes Aurora E Mid Latitude- No Troposphere Ducting- Yes Trans Equatorial (TE) F2/F3- Yes Meteor Scatter- Yes, Lyrids peaking on April 20-21, 2012. Meter Band Equivalents Ham SWL 160 90 80 75 60 60 40 49, 41 30 31, 25 20 22, 19 17 16, 15 15 13 Standard Disclaimer- Note! I use error prone RAW public domain data from the NOAA Space Environment Center, as well as other U.S. government organizations, to produce my propagation forecasts. This data is gathered and made public by the U.S. Government using taxpayer $$$. However the propagation forecast that I produce from the RAW public domain data is my personal intellectual property. Therefore this propagation forecast contained herein is copyrighted © 1988-2012 by Thomas F. Giella, NZ4O. Reproduction of and distribution of the propagation forecast herein is allowed without advanced permission as long as proper credit is given. Also space weather forecasting is still an inexact science. The forecasts are not official but for hobby related purposes only and are subject to human error and acts of God, therefore no guarantee or warranty implied (Thomas Giella, for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###